This Monday UFC President Dana White announced that UFC on FOX 4 headliners Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (20-6 MMA, 4-4 UFC) and Brandon Vera (12-5 MMA, 8-5 UFC) will be competing for a shot at the light-heavyweight title. Current title holder Jon Jones has already defeated both opponents via TKO. Dedicated fans of the UFC tweeted, emailed, and commented posts in a massive fashion with their disdain of the decision. Dana White never quick to shy away from controversy had this to say for his resoning on the title shot.
Shogun’ Rua just came off a ‘Fight of the Year’ last year,” said White, referring to Rua’s close decision loss to Dan Henderson in November at UFC 139. “He’s probably one of the best fighters of the last decade. Think about it. This guy knocked out ‘Rampage’ (Jackson), knocked out Chuck Liddell, knocked out Mark Coleman, knocked out Lyoto Machida, knocked out Forrest Griffin, knocked out Alistair Overeem twice, submitted Kevin Randleman. A win vs. [Vera] puts him right back in position, and then he’s probably the No. 2 guy in the world.
Brandon Vera who hasn’t won back- to back fights in more than 3 years is headlining the card, and if he wins is back in contender status. White later spoke with USA TODAY Sports telling them that co-headliners Ryan Bader (14-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) and Lyoto Machida (17-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) also will have that opportunity. “Whoever wins the most impressively on Saturday night gets the shot at the title,” White stating he has listened to the complaints, and he’s making a change.
“I put together the fights that fans want to see,” White said. “The fans didn’t like the Rua and Vera choice, so here it is: The guy that wins most impressively on Saturday night out of the co-main event and the main event will get the shot at the winner of Jon Jones vs. Dan Henderson.”
This still leaves most fans of the division upset, because between all four guys he has literally defeated via TKO, or submissions. Bader [Sub.], Machida[TKO.] Vera [TKO.], Rua [TKO.] At the end of the day Jon Jones has literally cleared out his division, and anyone left standing, he has either beaten, doesn’t have the credentials, or isn’t physically ready for Mr. Bones. It makes you wonder what will happen to the future of the sport of Jon’s reign continues? Does anyone have the tools to stop this guy?
