Tag: Craig Jones

Video: Karate Combat 45 LIVE STREAM: Luke Rockhold vs. Joe Schilling

Watch Karate Combat 45: Luke Rockhold vs. Joe Schilling live and free from Dubai.

Karate Combat 45 is streaming live from Dubai and you can watch the full card for free on MMA Junkie in the video above.

At the top of the bill, Karate Combat 45 features a bout between former UFC champion [autotag]Luke Rockhold[/autotag] and former GLORY Kickboxing and Bellator fighter [autotag]Joe Schilling[/autotag].

Additionally, on the 12-bout card, jiu-jitsu star [autotag]Craig Jones[/autotag] takes on UFC welterweight [autotag]Rinat Fakhretdinov[/autotag] in a grappling match, and former Bellator fighter [autotag]Raymond Daniels[/autotag] takes on Eddie Farrell.

Below is the full lineup for the event.

  • Luke Rockhold vs. Joe Schilling
  • Luiz Rocha vs. Myrza-Bek TeBuev
  • Eddie Farrell vs. Raymond Daniels
  • Vitalii Dubina vs. Edgar Skrivers
  • Rana Singh vs. Shahzaib Rind
  • Himanshu Kaushik vs. Uloomi Karim
  • Pawan Gupta vs. Rizwan Ali
  • Adam Noi vs. Ali Motamed
  • Huang Shuai Lu vs. Ali Zainfar
  • Craig Jones vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov
  • Kaynan Duarte vs. Pouya Rahmani
  • Zayed Alkatheeri vs. Osamah Almarwai

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UFC Fight Night 238 video: Hear from each winner, guest fighters backstage

Check out what the UFC Fight Night 238 winners and guest fighters had to say backstage at Saturday’s event.

LAS VEGAS – UFC Fight Night 238 took place Saturday with 11 bouts on the lineup. We’ve got you covered with backstage winner interviews from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

You can hear from all the UFC Fight Night 238 winners by checking out their post-fight news conferences below.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 238.

Craig Jones says Alexander Volkanovski will end a martial art vs. Islam Makhachev: ‘Sambo is a myth. It doesn’t exist’

Craig Jones thinks Alexander Volkanovski puts an end to Sambo at UFC 294.

[autotag]Craig Jones[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] puts an end to Sambo at UFC 294.

Volkanovski (26-2 MMA, 13-1 UFC) will step in on less than two weeks’ notice to rematch lightweight champion Islam Makhachev (24-1 MMA, 13-1 UFC) next Saturday, Oct. 21 in Abu Dhabi.

Jones, a multiple-time IBJJF world championship medalist and 2019 ADCC runner up, isn’t sold on Sambo as a martial art, and hopes Volkanovski proves how ineffective it is by beating Makhachev.

“It makes him a man that disproved Sambo, and that will trump his legacy in the sport because we’ve wasted another martial art,” Jones told Submission Radio. “Most martial arts were killed in 1993. Somehow, Sambo has limped and lingered on to 2023. So Volkanovski kills Sambo, and we get to stop hearing about this Russian dancer.”

Jones received criticism for claiming that Makhachev doesn’t have good submissions, and thinks their first fight proved it. Makhachev had more than seven minutes of control time on Volkanovski at UFC 284, but wasn’t able to submit him. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

“The last fight, we spent a ton of time on submission defense,” Jones said. “Obviously, that’s a waste of time because as we learned, Islam doesn’t know any submissions. He just holds on to the back for 20 minutes. This time, we’ll probably get out of the body triangle. There was no submission threat at all, so Volk was just chilling, getting energy back, punching him in the head. This time, we’ll get out of that.”

Makhachev’s mentor Khabib Nurmagomedov once infamously sported a t-shirt which read, “If Sambo was easy, it would be called jiu-jitsu,” but Jones explains why he doesn’t think Sambo really exists.

“We’ve heard about catch wrestling. We’ve heard about Sambo. We’ve never seen it work,” Jones said. “If Islam gets a submission, that’s a jiu-jitsu submission. If he gets a takedown, that’s a judo takedown. If he shoots a double-leg, that’s a wrestling move. So for me, where’s Sambo? Sambo is a myth. It doesn’t exist.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 294.

Ex-UFC champion Luke Rockhold to grapple Craig Jones on Sept. 21

Luke Rockhold is making his return to grappling, as he takes on Craig Jones.

[autotag]Luke Rockhold[/autotag] is resuming his grappling career.

The former UFC middleweight champion has booked a grappling match against [autotag]Craig Jones[/autotag] for Sept. 21 in Pais Arena in Jerusalem. The grappling match will be part of a mixed form of martial arts fights hosted by Israel Fight Night.

The promotion announced the news Sunday. Jones also confirmed the booking on his personal social media. No details on the rules or weight class were announced for the grappling match.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cv41xtwxjQa/

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Rockhold, a former UFC middleweight champion, left the Las Vegas-based promotion in August 2022 after a loss to Paulo Costa, which won Fight of the Night. The 38-year-old returned in March for a bareknuckle boxing match, but lost his BKFC debut by TKO to Mike Perry.

Jones is a longtime grappler who has been competing for many years at multiple belt levels and has won many tournaments. Most notably, he’s a two-time ADCC silver medalist. Jones doesn’t compete in MMA, but is the jiu-jitsu coach for UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.

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Alexander Volkanovski confident ‘bigger, stronger’ Craig Jones has him ready for Islam Makhachev’s submissions

Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski says he’s more than ready for lightweight champ Islam Makhachev’s ground game at UFC 284.

PERTH, Australia – [autotag]Alexander Volkanovski[/autotag] is more than ready for [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag]’s ground game.

Featherweight champion Volkanovski (25-1 MMA, 12-0 UFC) will attempt to become a two-weight champion when he challenges lightweight title holder Makhachev (23-1 MMA, 12-1 UFC) in Saturday’s headliner at RAC Arena. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

One of Volkanovski’s main training partners has been Craig Jones, a multitime IBJJF world championship medalist and 2019 ADCC runner up. When asked during the UFC 284 pre-fight press conference if he’d rather tap or go to sleep when put in a compromising position from Makhachev, Volkanovski said he’s more than ready to escape.

“I had one of the best grapplers in the world put me in these positions for 16 weeks straight – a bigger, stronger guy than him putting me in these positions, one of the best submission artists in the world,” Volkanovski said at Friday’s pre-fight news conference. “So to think I won’t be prepared for that is silly. I ain’t tapping. I ain’t going to sleep. I’m getting out and I’m putting hands on him, and that’s that.

“I know I’m doing everything I need to. I’m not putting rounds in for the sake of it. I do specifics. I do details. We studied him – obviously you’ve got to respect your opponent to really know what they’re good at. Supposedly, he doesn’t respect me as an opponent. He’s thinking I’m going to be easy. I hope he did do his research like we did because you need to with fights like this.”

Jones told Submission Radio he can envision Volkanovski catching Makhachev with a heel hook, but Makhachev says Jones is giving him a false sense of security.

“He brought some guys from jiu-jitsu, but this is not the same,” Makhachev said. “This is not going to be jiu-jitsu. This is going to be MMA pressure to the ground. He feels like Craig Jones cannot control him on the ground, but this is different.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 284.

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Craig Jones: Islam Makhachev good at holding people down, ‘but I don’t think he has good submissions’

Craig Jones isn’t sold on Islam Makhachev’s grappling ahead of his UFC 284 title fight with training partner Alexander Volkanovski.

[autotag]Craig Jones[/autotag] isn’t too sold on [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag]’s submission game.

Jones, a multiple-time IBJJF world championship medalist and 2019 ADCC runner up, has been an integral part of Alexander Volkanovski’s camp for his title fight against lightweight champion Makhachev, which headlines Saturday’s UFC 284 event at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.

Although Makhachev (23-1 MMA, 12-1 UFC) has 11 career submissions – including his title-winning arm-triangle choke of Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 in October, Jones doesn’t rate his technique too highly.

“I mean, he’s just good at holding people down,” Jones told Submission Radio. “Like, he submits people, but I don’t think he has good submissions. Like, it’s a wrestling culture, and they obviously have some submissions in Sambo and stuff, but Sambo’s pretty bad as a grappling art. Like, a lot of the Sambo guys enter tournaments, they want heel hooks banned. So, it’s not a complete grappling art on the ground. But again, what he does well is his ability to hold people down from half guard and closed guard especially.

“And then as they make bad decisions, he’s able to pounce on submissions. But even still, like, obviously it’s hard for me to say this, but even when I looked at him submit Charles Oliveira, if you looked at how he submitted him, he grabbed his neck and he squeezed him as hard as he could. To me, I look at that, I see that as an inefficient choke. If he didn’t get that, he’s burning his arms out. Whereas, I feel like higher-level technique, he’d be able to hold onto that thing for three, four minutes, if you know what I mean.”

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Volkanovski (25-1 MMA, 12-0 UFC) recently defended his featherweight title against Brian Ortega, where he managed to fight off a deep guillotine choke that had him in major trouble. With Volkanovski being able to fend off numerous submission attempts from the Rener Gracie jiu-jitsu blackbelt, Jones thinks he’ll be able to handle Makhachev.

“I mean, honestly, Ortega’s more dangerous on the ground,” Jones said. “Obviously, Ortega’s taken more losses. His submissions are better than Islam’s. I think Ortega could give Islam a good fight, honestly. So, I mean, I think him escaping Ortega’s submissions will be more impressive than him escaping Islam’s submissions.”

He continued, “I think part of what makes Islam special and Khabib special is they have that Mike Tyson effect. Everyone’s so scared. They’re like, ‘Oh sh*t, if hits the ground, it’s over.’ You know what I mean? Obviously, no one’s superhuman, no one’s grappling ability’s that good, you know? So, I think a lot of people just panic and make bad decisions on the ground.”

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Wednesday’s SUG 20 lineup includes Ryan Bader, C.B. Dollaway, Pearl Gonzalez vs. Gillian Robertson, more

Chael Sonnen’s Submission Underground returns to UFC Fight Pass on Wednesday, and once again the card features a number of MMA notables.

Chael Sonnen’s Submission Underground returns to UFC Fight Pass on Wednesday, and once again the card features a number of MMA notables.

The closed-door submission grappling event takes place in Portland and features Bellator heavyweight champion [autotag]Ryan Bader[/autotag] in the main event, taking on SUG absolute champion [autotag]Mason Fowler[/autotag]. The full card streams live on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 6 p.m. ET (3 p.m. PT local time).

Bader competed earlier this month at Submission Underground 19, scoring an overtime victory over recent Bellator signee Anthony Johnson, while Fowler also competed on the same card, submitting [autotag]Satoshi Ishii[/autotag] in overtime to defend his belt.

In the co-main event of Submission Underground 20, Japanese Olympic gold medalist judoka and longtime MMA veteran Ishii faces Australian grappling superstar [autotag]Craig Jones[/autotag].

Additional featured contests include 20-time UFC veteran [autotag]C.B. Dollaway[/autotag] against 10th Planet black belt [autotag]Richie Martinez[/autotag], as well as Invicta FC flyweight [autotag]Pearl Gonzalez[/autotag] taking on UFC women’s flyweight [autotag]Gillian Robertson[/autotag].

The complete Submission Underground 20 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD

  • Champ Mason Fowler vs. Ryan Bader – for absolute championship
  • Satoshi Ishii vs. Craig Jones
  • C.B. Dollaway vs. Richie Martinez
  • Pearl Gonzalez vs. Gillian Robertson
  • Hunter Colvin vs. Gabriel Gonzaga

PRELIMINARY CARD

  • Ben Egli vs. Andy Varela
  • Micah Brakefield vs. Benji Silva
  • Rita Gribben vs. Kristin Mikkelson
  • Juan Bernardo vs. Alex Larmey
  • Charlie Gilpin vs. John Simon

Submission Underground 14 results: Craig Jones needs overtime but taps out Vagner Rocha

Grappling superstar Craig Jones was frustrated early but continued his Submission Underground dominance with a tapout win over Vagner Rocha.

Grappling superstar [autotag]Craig Jones[/autotag] was frustrated early but continued his Submission Underground dominance with a win over [autotag]Vagner Rocha[/autotag] via tapout.

Jones submitted four-time UFC veteran Rocha in the main event of Sunday’s SUG 14 event, which streamed live on UFC Fight Pass from a modified grain silo at an undisclosed location in Oregon due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Jones wasted little time moving to a seated position and moving to attack his opponent’s legs. Rocha battled well to break free from each attempt, including a deep entrance into a kneebar. Rocha did his best to engage from the top, but each time he was forced on defense from a leg entanglement. A scramble briefly saw Jones move to the top, but he wasn’t able to maintain the position.

Jones continued to reach for the legs for the remainder of regulation, briefly seeming to indicate Rocha’s limbs were excessively slippery. However, Rocha was checked at the end of regulation and was deemed suitable.

In overtime, Jones started on the back, implementing a squeeze almost immediately. Rocha looked calm at first, but Jones continued working the choke and forced a tap 37 seconds into the two-minute frame.

When it was his turn, Rocha also started on the back. The action was fast-paced at the start, with Jones trying desperately to work free. Rocha was able to lock in a body triangle, but he couldn’t get his opponent into submission trouble fast enough, and time expired, and Jones was handed the win. The result served as a measure of revenge for Jones who lost to Rocha in a 2017 meeting under the Eddie Bravo Invitational banner.

Checco taps out Vanderford

In the night’s co-feature RFA and LFA veteran [autotag]Gabriel Checco[/autotag] was able to earn an impressive submission win over undefeated Bellator welterweight [autotag]Austin Vanderford[/autotag].

Checco pulled guard at the start and looked to attack the arms early, but Vanderford was able to slip free and remain safe in top position. Working from his back, Checco continued to look to control the arms throughout regulation, but Vanderford pushed away each effort and stayed on top, eventually moving to side control, though he didn’t have enough time to capitalize.

In overtime, Vanderford started on the back and looked to transition to an arm-triangle, but Checco was able to break free quickly. It didn’t cost Vanderford, though, as he also powered free in rapid fashion.

In the second overtime, Vanderford again tried for the same submission, but Checco got free in just eight seconds. Checco then started on the back and controlled the position well, racking up control time before eventually slipping his right arm under the chin and using a Gable grip to squeeze for the finish.

Primus stuns Shields

In a featured contest, former Bellator lightweight champion [autotag]Brent Primus[/autotag] earned a surprising submission win over former Strikeforce middleweight titleholder [autotag]Jake Shields[/autotag].

While Primus held top position for much of the regulation period, it ended up being a relativ stalemate. Once the pair went to overtime, Shields started off on the back and earned a full two minutes of control. However, when it was Primus’ turn, he started from the armbar and quickly gained firm control of his opponent’s left arm. Shields did his best to turn and roll free, but Primus held the position and was able to score a tapout victory 31 seconds into overtime.


Complete Submission Underground 14 results include:

MAIN CARD

  • Craig Jones def. Vagner Rocha via submission (rear-naked choke) – Overtime 1, 0:37
  • Gabriel Checco def. Austin Vanderford via submission (rear-naked choke) – Overtime 2, 1:02
  • Brent Primus def. Jake Shields via submission (armbar) – Overtime 1, 0:31
  • [autotag]Jordan Holy[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Andrew Alexander[/autotag] via submission (toe hold) – Regulation, 0:49

PRELIMINARY CARD

  • [autotag]Roberto Jimenez[/autotag] def. [autotag]Don Stoner[/autotag] submission (triangle choke) – Round 1, 1:10
  • [autotag]Joseph McKay[/autotag] def. [autotag]Gustavo Bessa[/autotag] submission (lapel choke) – Overtime 1, 1:15
  • [autotag]Bryan Nuro[/autotag] def. [autotag]Ryan Healy[/autotag] via submission (armbar) – Overtime 1, 0:31
  • [autotag]Nicholas Maximov[/autotag] def. [autotag]Adam Fugitt[/autotag] via submission (guillotine choke) – Regulation, 2:28
  • [autotag]Tobias Baker[/autotag] def. [autotag]Charlie Gilpin[/autotag] via submission (armbar) – Overtime 2, 0:23
  • [autotag]Caleb Stecker[/autotag] def. [autotag]Alex Corrales[/autotag] via escape time – Full time

Combat Rewind, May 12: Soak in the 6-foot-11 Semmy Schilt

Check out the best highlights from this day in history with MMA Junkie’s “Combat Rewind.”

There’s “Flashback Friday” and “Throwback Thursday” (and Tuesday, too, if you want). But at MMA Junkie, we figured why not expand that to every day?

“Combat Rewind” brings you some of combat sports’ best highlights from every calendar day of the year. It’s a look back at history, courtesy of the UFC Fight Pass archives, featuring stellar finishes and classic moments in MMA and beyond on their anniversaries.

So kick back and relive the following bits of greatness in the video above:

  • WEC 27: [autotag]Tommy Speer[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Sidney Silva[/autotag] – May 12, 2007
  • Submission Underground 8: [autotag]Craig Jones[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Dennis Hallman[/autotag] – May 12, 2019
  • GLORY 53: [autotag]Cedric Doumbe[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Thongchai Sitsongpeenong[/autotag] – May 12, 2018
  • TKO UCC 4: [autotag]David Loiseau[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Shawn Tompkins[/autotag] – May 12, 2001
  • Pancrase Advance 6: [autotag]Semmy Schilt[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Kazuo Takahashi[/autotag] – May 12, 1998
  • WEC 27: [autotag]Doug Marshall[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Justin McElfresh[/autotag] – May 12, 2007

Fight footage courtesy of UFC Fight Pass, the UFC’s official digital subscription service, which is currently offering a seven-day free trial. UFC Fight Pass gives fans access to exclusive live UFC events and fights, exclusive live MMA and combat sports events from around the world, exclusive original and behind the scenes content and unprecedented 24-7 access to the world’s biggest fight library.

Combat Rewind – May 12

“Combat Rewind” brings you some of combat sports’ best highlights from every calendar day of the year, courtesy of the UFC Fight Pass archives.

“Combat Rewind” brings you some of combat sports’ best highlights from every calendar day of the year, courtesy of the UFC Fight Pass archives.