Tag: Mason Jones

Razorbacks to honor nine seniors, host LSU in home-season finale

Senior Khalif Battle will challenge scoring record as Razorbacks host LSU in Bud Walton Arena.

With a winning or losing record still in the balance, the Arkansas basketball team will look to return to the break-even mark Wednesday night when rival LSU comes to Bud Walton Arena for a 6 p.m. tip-off.

Arkansas (14-15, 5-11 SEC) nearly pulled off a huge upset at No. 15 Kentucky on Saturday, but got the short end of the foul parade and stumbled late to a 111-102 loss.

A win or loss against the Tigers (16-13, 8-8 SEC) won’t mean much in the big picture, as Arkansas would need a miracle run to win the upcoming SEC Tournament, regardless. But I win over their long-time adversary would at least be a feather in the cap.

It will be Senior Night, so all nine of the Razorbacks’ seniors will be recognized, led by four-year Hog, Davonte “Devo” Davis.

The only real question is whether senior Khalif Battle can become the first Razorback to ever score at least 30 points in his fourth straight game. The 6-foot-5 Temple-transfer has lit up the scoreboard of late, knocking down a career-high 42 against Missouri, followed by 36 against Vanderbilt, then 34 in Saturday’s loss to Kentucky.

He helped bolster his output by making an astounding 45-of-49 free throws – 91.8 percent – over those three games.

Battle and former Hog Mason Jones are the only two players to tally three straight 30-point games. Jones did it in 2020, while eventually being named SEC Player of the Year.

This will be the 79th time the Razorbacks and Tigers have met on the court, dating back to 1949, when LSU claimed a 62-46 win in Baton Rouge. The teams split their first 10 matchups, before Arkansas went on an 11-game win streak against the Tigers. The Hogs leads the all-time series, 42-36, including 38-31 since joining the SEC in 1991.

Arkansas has won four of the last six overall meetings, but did fall at LSU earlier this season, 95-74. The Razorbacks also hold a 23-8 advantage in games played in Fayetteville.

Wednesday’s game will air live on the SEC Network, with Mike Morgan and former Razorback Joe Kleine on the call.

UFC veterans in MMA, karate and kickboxing action Feb. 22-25

Check out which veterans of the UFC are competing in combat sports across the globe this weekend.

This week, the UFC returns to Mexico for UFC Fight Night 237.

The event at Mexico City Arena in Mexico City features a flyweight clash between former champion [autotag]Brandon Moreno[/autotag] and [autotag]Brandon Royval[/autotag].

Many other combat sports events are taking place that feature several familiar names that have competed under the UFC banner.

Check out which veterans of the global MMA leader are competing Feb. 22-25.

Scroll below to see how the UFC veterans fared last week, and see the names and details of this weekend’s competitors.

Upcoming event information from Tapology.

On the Doorstep: 5 fighters who could make UFC with February wins

For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey starts long before they strap on UFC gloves.

Every champion in MMA history started out somewhere.

For those who make it to the highest stage, the journey begins long before they strap on UFC, Bellator or PFL gloves. Modern-era fighters progress through the regional ranks with hopes of accomplishing the highest accolades. Many will try, few will succeed.

This month, five fighters on the verge of achieving major promotion notoriety – one for the second time – return to the cage for what could be their stepping-stone fight. There are dozens of fighters close to making the jump in the coming weeks, but these five are particularly exemplary.

  • A New Englander migrated to Florida and American Top Team to help make his dreams come true – and he thinks he’s close.
  • Erin Blanchfield’s main training partner continues down a similar path with major UFC aspirations on her mind.
  • A Vietnam-born flyweight is only 23, but making huge waves thus far on the regional scene and plans to continue them until Mick Maynard comes calling.
  • Formerly of Oklahoma State University, a standout wrestler’s transition into MMA is seemingly destiny, bolstered by a recent move to Fortis MMA.
  • Don’t call it a comeback, but a Welsh lightweight is obsessed with earning a second UFC opportunity – and is on his way to doing so.

UFC veterans in MMA action Oct. 13-14

Check out which veterans of the UFC are competing in combat sports across the globe this weekend.

This week, the UFC keeps the show at the home base in Las Vegas for UFC Fight Night 230.

This week’s event at the UFC Apex features a featherweight clash between [autotag]Sodiq Yusuff[/autotag] and [autotag]Edson Barboza[/autotag].

Elsewhere, many other combat sports events are taking place that feature a number of familiar names that have competed under the UFC banner.

Check out which veterans of the global MMA leader are competing in MMA Oct. 13-14.

Check out the names and details about their bouts below.

Upcoming event information from Tapology.

Former Razorback guard Mason Jones featured in new NBA G League documentary

A new documentary titled “Destination NBA: A G League Odyssey” is out now and features former Arkansas guard Mason Jones.

Former Arkansas guard [autotag]Mason Jones[/autotag] is being featured in a new documentary titled “Destination NBA: A G League Odyssey.” The documentary, which is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, is executive produced by the Ringer’s Bill Simmons and famed sports documentarian Gotham Chopra.

IMDb.com’s synopsis of the two-hour film says it, “gives viewers access to some of basketball’s brightest prospects as they participate in the NBA G League during the 2022-23 season.” Jones is one of the prospects who viewers will follow throughout the film and is also featured in the official trailer.

“God is putting me in positions to continue to be patient,” Jones says in the film’s official trailer. “If people were in my position, they probably would’ve already quit now.”

Mason Jones spent just two years at Arkansas, but put together a stellar career during that time. He averaged 17.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists as a Razorback and racked up numerous accolades including SEC co-Player of the Year in the 2019-20 season.

Following college, Jones went undrafted and has spent the majority of his career in the NBA G League. During the 2022-23 G League season, he was part of Capitanes de Ciudad de México (Mexico City Captains) which is where fans will see him during the documentary. 

On July 16, 2023, Jones chose to pursue a playing career overseas and signed with Darüşşafaka Lassa based in Istanbul, Turkey.

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UFC veterans in MMA and bareknuckle boxing action July 28-30

Check out which veterans of the UFC are in combat sports action across the globe this weekend.

This week, the UFC returns to pay-per-view for UFC 291 in Salt Lake City.

The event at Delta Center features a lightweight rematch, this time for the BMF title, between [autotag]Dustin Poirier[/autotag] and [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag].

Elsewhere, many other combat sports events are taking place that feature a number of familiar names that have competed under the UFC banner.

Check out which veterans of the global MMA leader are competing in MMA and bareknuckle boxing this week from July 28-30.

Check out the names and details about their bouts below.

Upcoming event information from Tapology.

Arkansas Basketball: The All-2010s Team

Arkansas basketball produced some memorable moments and players during the 2010s. Here’s the All-2010s Arkansas basketball team.

The 2010s went much better for [autotag]Arkansas basketball[/autotag] than the decade that preceded it. The program began winning more regularly and were a much more consistent presence in the NCAA Tournament.

However, they were still not able to make it over the hump and into the second weekend of March Madness.

The decade began with John Pelphrey’s tenure coming to an end after four seasons and only one NCAA Tournament appearance. [autotag]Mike Anderson[/autotag] was hired to try and replicate what his mentor Nolan Richardson was able to accomplish.

While Anderson never had a losing season as Arkansas’ head coach and was able to produce some extremely talent players, he was never able to advance past the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The 2010s would end with the introduction of [autotag]Eric Musselman[/autotag] as head coach and his first season in Fayetteville.

Arkansas basketball produced a lot of memorable and talented players during this decade. Here’s a look at the All-2010s Razorback team, with the best of the best from this period in Arkansas basketball.

Mexico City’s Capitanes’ secret G League weapon? The altitude, per Mason Jones

“I think that being here for three weeks helped me and the team get used to this,” explained Jones.

One of the advantages for players looking to use a stint with Mexico City’s Capitanes in the NBA’s G League is the proximity to the parent league in terms of both distance and the fact that the teams are inside of the league’s ecosystem with largely the same rules and even at times same styles of play for a G League team as their parent organization.

Another is the boost the altitude of the Mexican metropolis provides at 7,350 feet above sea level. That fact was mentioned by Capitanes guard Mason Jones after a win over the Memphis Hustle, the G League squad of the Memphis Grizzlies. Jones related how Mexico City players used their high-altitude conditioning to outrun their opponent.

“I think that was the biggest adjustment,” Jones explained. ” … to play faster.”

UFC Fight Night 208 post-event facts: Molly McCann’s second spinning elbow makes history

Molly McCann owns two of six spinning elbow knockouts in UFC history after UFC Fight Night 208.

The UFC’s encore in London did not live up to the standards of its visit to the city earlier this year. Nine of the 14 bouts at UFC Fight Night 208 on Saturday at The O2 went to a decision.

The heavyweight main event capped off in disappointing fashion when [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] (12-3 MMA, 5-1 UFC) suffered a knee injury just 15 seconds into the fight, giving [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] (17-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) a TKO victory.

For more on the numbers behind the card, check below for MMA Junkie’s post-event facts from UFC Fight Night 208.

UFC 277 hit with multitude of withdrawals. Here’s where the card stands less than two weeks away.

Less than two weeks away, the UFC 277 prelims are falling apart, and the promotion continues to patch things up.

UFC 277 is less than two weeks away, and the promotion continues to work through numerous fighter injuries and visa-related withdrawals.

While luckily the main card remains intact, a handful of preliminary card fighter pullouts have resulted in new bouts and a couple of yet-to-be-filled openings.

The event takes place July 30 at American Airlines Center in Dallas with the main card streaming on pay-per-view after prelims on ESPN/ESPN+.

See below to check out the UFC 277 changes from the past week.