UFC 178: Jones vs Gustafsson II - Fight Card Updates

[keithlewis]

In an exclusive interview with UFC President Dana White and UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, it was announced that the rematch between Jones and number one contender Alexander Gustafsson has been set for September 27th.

After returning from a trip to South America, Jones finally had a chance to sit down with White and UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta today to talk about his next fight.

"There was never an issue with a contract. I was traveling and finally got to Vegas and got to talk with Dana and Lorezno. We talked and September 27th, I'll be fighting Gustafsson," Jones explained.

"I think Cormier is the tougher fighter, but the fans want to see me fight Gustafsson. There was never an issue with taking the Gustafsson fight," Jones said. "The issue was that my brother is getting married in July and I would have preferred a later date. I didn't want to go this early and I would have preferred to go later in October or November. It is what it is. We have a date now, Sept 27th. This was a personal decision for me. I will be at my brother's wedding and have a proper training camp."

"Obviously Jon is right, this if the fight the fans want to see. The great thing about this is, we get Jones vs Gustafsson, and if Jones beats Gustafsson, we get Jones vs Cormier. Two great fights in the light heavyweight division with three of the baddest guys in the world: the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world and champion Jon Jones, and the number one and two contenders," UFC President Dana White commented.


http://www.ufc.com/news/jones-gustafsson-2-sept-27

[keithlewis]

As the Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson rematch heads to Las Vegas on September 27, this highly-anticipated event has received another jolt of fistic firepower, as middleweight contenders Tim Kennedy and Yoel Romero meet in the Fight Capital of the World this fall. Unbeaten in three UFC bouts, former Strikeforce standout Kennedy picked up the biggest win of his Octagon campaign in April when he won a five-round unanimous decision over Michael Bisping. A former Olympic Silver medalist in freestyle wrestling for Cuba, Romero also sports a perfect UFC slate, with wins over Clifford Starks, Ronny Markes, Derek Brunson, and Brad Tavares.


UFC 178: Jones vs Gustafsson II
September 27, 2014
Venue TBA
Las Vegas, Nevada


Jon Jones (20-1) vs. Alexander Gustafsson (16-2) - UFC light heavyweight title bout
Tim Kennedy (18-4) vs. Yoel Romero (8-1)

[keithlewis]

The Dominator is back this Fall.

The wait is over for former UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz. Following nearly three years away from the Octagon due to a series of injuries, Cruz will return to active duty on Saturday, September 27, to face number five ranked Takeya Mizugaki on the Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson II undercard in Las Vegas.

Unbeaten in nine fights at bantamweight, Cruz' last bout was on October 1, 2011, when he successfully defended his crown against current flyweight boss Demetrious Johnson. Multiple injuries sent him to the sidelines and forced him to relinquish his title in early 2014. But after given the green light to fight again, he will look to begin the road back to the title against Japan's Mizugaki, who has won five straight, most recently a decision win over Francisco Rivera at UFC 173 in May.


www.ufc.com

[keithlewis]

Cat Zingano returns this September


Number one women's bantamweight contender Cat Zingano will make her long-awaited return to the Octagon on Saturday, September 27, as she faces Brazil's Amanda Nunes in a UFC 178 bout in Las Vegas. Sidelined by injury since her April 2013 knockout of Miesha Tate, Zingano could secure a shot at the woman she was supposed to coach against on season 18 of The Ultimate Fighter, women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey, with a win over Nunes, who is unbeaten in two UFC bouts, with knockouts of Sheila Gaff and Germaine de Randamie.

www.ufc.com

[keithlewis]

* Fighting for the first time since last November, welterweight veteran Brian "Bad Boy" Ebersole will square off against John "Doomsday" Howard in a UFC 178 bout on September 27 in Las Vegas. This will be Ebersole's first start since a UFC 167 loss to Rick Story. He has won 11 of his last 13. Boston's Howard is 4-1 in his last five, with UFC wins over Uriah Hall and Siyar Bahadurzada.

* Patrick "The Predator" Cote continues his welterweight journey against striking savant Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson.

http://www.ufc.com

[keithlewis]

JONES vs. GUSTAFSSON TITLE REMATCH HEADS TO MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA IN LAS VEGAS


The UFC has announced that the highly anticipated rematch between UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and No. 1 contender Alexander Gustafsson will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Saturday, Sept. 27. Jones defeated Gustafsson by unanimous decision in the 2013 Fight of the Year. Now, the two will meet again in what could be the biggest fight of 2014.

GRAMMY Award-winning band Kings of Leon announced its 2014 Mechanical Bull Tour will move its Saturday, Sept. 27 performance from the MGM Grand Garden Arena to The Lot along the Las Vegas Strip when it headlines the Boulevard Brew Fest. Young The Giant, Kongos and others will join Kings of Leon for the event presented by MGM Resorts International and Oregon Brewers Festival.

“The first fight between Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson was the greatest light heavyweight fight in the history of the UFC,” UFC President Dana White said. “This next one is gonna be epic! I really appreciate MGM Resorts, Live Nation and Kings of Leon working together to help us bring this huge fight to Las Vegas.”

With the announcement that the MGM Grand Garden Arena will serve as the official venue of UFC 178, UFC officials also announced a multi-city press tour beginning this week featuring Jones and Gustafsson. The full schedule, which includes stops in Stockholm, Sweden, New York City, Atlanta, Las Vegas and Los Angeles, is listed below:


* Thursday, July 24 and Friday, July 25 – Gustafsson Media Days in Stockholm: Jones and Gustafsson to also participate on media conference call on Thursday at 1 p.m. PT. Dial-in information to follow

* Monday, July 28 – Jones and Gustafsson Media Day in New York City: Moderated Q&A for fans and media with Jones and Gustafsson at Madison Square Garden Theater Lobby at 4 p.m. ET

* Tuesday, July 29 – Jones and Gustafsson Media Day in Atlanta

* Wednesday, July 30 –UFC 178 press conference in Las Vegas: MGM Grand Hotel’s Lobby at 11 a.m. PT (open to public)

* Thursday, July 31 and Friday, Aug. 1 – Jones and Gustafsson media days in Los Angeles: Moderated Q&A for fans and media with Jones and Gustafsson on Friday at Club Nokia at LA Live at 4 p.m. PT


UFC 178: Jones vs Gustafsson II
September 27, 2014
MGM Grand Garden Arena
Las Vegas, Nevada


Jon Jones (20-1) vs. Alexander Gustafsson (16-2) - UFC light heavyweight title bout
Tim Kennedy (18-4) vs. Yoel Romero (8-1)
Dominick Cruz (19-1) vs. Takeya Mizugaki (20-7-2)
Cat Zingano (8-0) vs. Amanda Nunes (9-3)
Patrick Cote (20-8) vs. Stephen Thompson (9-1)
Brian Ebersole (50-16-1) vs. John Howard (22-9)