By Carlos Arias, The Orange County Register –
Dan Henderson has never been knocked out in a 37-fight career that dates to 1997.
UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones wants to be the first fighter to accomplish that feat and he will get his opportunity to try when they meet at UFC 151 on Sept. 1 in Las Vegas on pay-per-view.
“No one has ever stopped Dan Henderson and I will take great pride in stopping him,” said Jones, who has made three successful title defenses since winning the title in March 2011. “He is a great warrior and he’s proven a lot in the sport. He’s upset a lot of fighters that were supposedly better than him.”
Jones better not overlook Henderson, a former Pride 185- and 205-pound champion and Strikeforce light-heavyweight champion. Henderson is riding a four-fight winning streak, which includes a knockout of former Pride heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko and a unanimous decision over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in 2011’s fight of the year.
“This is a high risk/high reward fight for me,” Jones said. “He has a big right hand, he knocked out Fedor who was one of my idols, but I’ve been punched before. Rashad Evans hit me pretty good, Lyoto Machida hit me pretty good and I get hit in training but I take no pride in getting hit. So my chin has definitely been tested and I think that conversation should be over by now.”
Jones said he is focused on Henderson and he hasn’t been distracted by his recent Twitter feud with Chael Sonnen.
“I want to set the record straight and let everyone know that not everything that I do is based around Dan Henderson,” Jones said. “My studying, my tactics, every hour of the day I am think about him. Just because I answer a few questions about other things doesn’t mean that my priorities aren’t straight. I think that people are overlooking Dan Henderson. But I am definitely not.”
NOTES
UFC welterweight Jake Ellenberger, who trains at Reign Training Center in Lake Forest, has a lot of confidence heading into his rematch against Jay Hieron at UFC 151 even though he lost a decision to Hieron in the IFL in 2006.
“He likes to rely a little too much on his athleticism and it’s gotten him a long way but I’ve fought him before,” Ellenberger told UFC.com. “I’ve seen what he can do. I fought him when he was probably the most dangerous. It’s harder to fight somebody for the second time when you kind of have a good idea of what they’re gonna do. He doesn’t like to get hit. I know that. I fought him once. Boy does he not like to get hit. … I want to make a point not as much personally to avenge a loss, but to make a statement.” …
Donald Cerrone has been calling out former WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis ever since his spectacular knockout of Melvin Guillard at UFC 150 on Aug. 11. Pettis appears to be more than ready to oblige Cerrone.
“Oh, it is happening,” Pettis told Fuel TV’s “UFc Tonight.” “He is talking too much mess for it not to happen. I’m excited to get in there and scrap with him. I should be ready by early November or late November. Either way, by November, be ready. So, be ready, bro. You’ve been talking a lot of mess. Be ready. I am coming for that title shot. You’re the only guy standing in my way and I’m gonna get it.” …
Former WEC lightweight champion “Razor” Rob McCullough of Huntington Beach is training for a super fight for Bellator Fighting Championships in January on Spike TV. McCullough said the fight will be in Southern California.
He also works as director of instructor training for LA Boxing, which has 74 franchises, including 14 in Orange County. McCullough called on some of his friends — Tito Ortiz, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, UFC president Dana White, Zab Judah and Mark Munoz — and started “Bully Fight,” an anti-bullying campaign that is reaching out to elementary and middle schools in the community. Go online at youtube.com/fightbully to see the video. …
Orange’s Joe Williams, a former star wrestler at Calvary Chapel High of Santa Ana, puts his undefeated record on the line when he makes his Bellator debut against Andy Uhrich at Bellator 73 on Friday in Tunica, Miss. Williams’ fight will be on the prelims that will be streamed live at 4 p.m. on Spike.com. …
Marcos Galvao faces Luis Nogueira in the Season 6 bantamweight tournament final and Travis Wiuff takes on Attila Vegh in the Season 6 light-heavyweight tournament final on the main card at Bellator 73 on Friday at 8 p.m. on MTV2 and EPIX. …
Former WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Angel Torres announced on his website Tuesday that he was released from the UFC following his April loss to Michael McDonald. He also announced that he will be fighting for Titan Fighting Championship on Nov. 2 in Hammond, Ind.
“I am excited to continue fighting, to regain my focus and to get back to what made me a champion,” Torres wrote. “I have dedicated my whole life to mixed martial arts and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. From teaching, to training and fighting – from the lowest to the highest levels – my passion in life is to be the best that I can be.”
