UFC 145
The 32-year old Evans and 24-year old Jones were both friends while training out of Greg Jackson's camp, when an injury forced Evans out of a scheduled title fight against Shogun Rua in March of 2011. The UFC gave the opportunity to his training buddy Jonny Bones, who went on to defeat Rua in the third round. The story from here is a he said/she said, but the gist of it is that Jon Jones said that he wouldn't have a problem defending his belt against Evans, despite there being an unwritten rule in Jackson's camp that teammates won't fight each other. Evans felt betrayed by his former friend and coach, and severed his relationship with Jackson MMA.
The two men were scheduled to fight both at UFC 133 in August, but Jones was injured; then again i December at UFC 140, but this time it was Evans that pulled out with a thumb injury. Now neither men have any excuses, and we'll find out on Saturday who the better man truly is.
On paper, Jones is younger, stronger, and taller, and honestly should win the fight. He has looked unstoppable in the UFC, going 9-1, with his only loss a controversial disqualification against Matt Hamill. His fighting style is comparable to a young Anderson Silva, with a wide array of jaw-dropping strikes. Evans has compiled a 12-1-1 record in the UFC, with 7 wins coming via decision. Evans has the edge in experience and wrestling, and will have to take Jones down at will if he hopes to win the fight. Prediction: Evans by split decision
Rest of the Card:
The rest of this card is pretty weak, with a couple upper-mid card guys fighting some younger lesser known guys.
Rory MacDonald TKO over Che Mills
Brendan Schaub KO over Ben Rothwell
Miguel Torres Decision over Michael McDonald
Mark Homick Submission over Eddie Yagin
Mark Bocek Submission over John Alessio
Yankees
The Yanks haven't looked impressive in the young season so far, with the loan bright spot coming out of the bullpen. Offensively, once again, they fail to come through with any consistency with runners in scoring position, instead opting to go with the long ball. A-Rod and Teixeira continue to show their age, while Captain Jeter is playing like he's 27 again. Am I the only one that groans everytime Chris Stewart gets out while we have Francisco Cervelli in the Minors?
Meanwhile the starting pitching has left a lot to be desired. Hiroki "Hooker Spit"Kuroda has had two horrible starts, and is looking like another guy from the NL that can't pitch well in the AL. Freddy Garcia's magic carpet lost it's steam and has crashed down to earth, and is making Yankee fans miss AJ Burnett. I'm counting down the days until the calvary comes with Andy Pettitte and Michael Pineda to save the day.
A good series against the struggling Red Sox this weekend will certainly help heal some wounds, but I am concerned for the team's future.
NBA
The Knicks look like they are locked into the 7 seed and a probable date with 2 and a Half Men and the rest of the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs. If Carmelo can keep up his MVP-calibre play when A'mare Stoudemire returns, they have a chance to pull off the upset. They can't turn the ball over the way they have against the Heat, because is Miami is just too good in the fast break.
RIP New Jersey Nets 1977-2012.... On Monday the Nets will play their last game in New Jersey, before moving to Brooklyn. While the team has had more losing seasons than the Washington Generals, it feels weird to think that the Garden State won't have an NBA team to call their own. Who would of thought that just ten years ago, when they were going to their first of back-to-back NBA Finals appearances.
The NFL announced the 2012 schedule, and here is my way too early prediction for the Jets.
9/9 -- Sunday -- Buffalo, 1 p.m., CBS
9/16 -- Sunday -- at Pittsburgh, 4:15 p.m., CBS
9/23 -- Sunday -- at Miami, 1 p.m., CBS
9/30 -- Sunday -- San Francisco, 1 p.m., FOX
At the very least, we should split their first four games, and possibly go 3-1. We should win both divisional match-ups against the Bills and Phins. I could see our offense struggling in Pittsbrugh week 2, with the team still getting used to new coordinator Tony Sparano. The 49ers could have a disappointing 2012 season, after shocking the world in 2011.
10/8 -- Monday -- Houston, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
10/14 -- Sunday -- Indianapolis, 1 p.m., CBS
10/21 -- Sunday -- at New England, 4:15 p.m., CBS
10/28 -- Sunday -- Miami, 1 p.m., CBS
11/4 -- Bye
I like having a bye week right in the middle in of the season. Knowing the Jets too well, I wouldn't be shocked if we go 1-3 here, losing to Houston, and the Pats, and a lookahead game against Indy sandwiched in between as a possible upset loss.
11/11 -- Sunday -- at Seattle, 4:05 p.m., CBS
11/18 -- Sunday -- at St. Louis, 1 p.m., CBS
11/22 -- Thursday -- New England, 8:20 p.m., NBC
12/2 -- Sunday -- Arizona, 1 p.m.*, FOX*
The team should be able build up steam here, going 4-0 in this stretch, with 3 winnable games. A marquee matchup against the Pats on Turkey Day at home, where we usually play them well, could be a highlight of our season.
12/9 -- Sunday -- at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.*, CBS*
12/17 -- Monday -- at Tennessee, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
12/23 -- Sunday -- San Diego, 8:20 p.m.*, NBC*
12/30 -- Sunday -- at Buffalo, 1 p.m.*, CBS*
The Jets finish up an easy second half schedule, with the only true test coming against the Chargers week 16.
I can see the Jets going 10-6, playing a pretty fair schedule. We get lucky playing some easier games on the road (Seahawks, Rams, Jaguars, Titans) while playing tougher teams at home (49ers, Texans, Chargers). That should be good enough to make the Wild Card in a competitive AFC.
Jets
The NFL announced the 2012 schedule, and here is my way too early prediction for the Jets.
9/9 -- Sunday -- Buffalo, 1 p.m., CBS
9/16 -- Sunday -- at Pittsburgh, 4:15 p.m., CBS
9/23 -- Sunday -- at Miami, 1 p.m., CBS
9/30 -- Sunday -- San Francisco, 1 p.m., FOX
At the very least, we should split their first four games, and possibly go 3-1. We should win both divisional match-ups against the Bills and Phins. I could see our offense struggling in Pittsbrugh week 2, with the team still getting used to new coordinator Tony Sparano. The 49ers could have a disappointing 2012 season, after shocking the world in 2011.
10/8 -- Monday -- Houston, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
10/14 -- Sunday -- Indianapolis, 1 p.m., CBS
10/21 -- Sunday -- at New England, 4:15 p.m., CBS
10/28 -- Sunday -- Miami, 1 p.m., CBS
11/4 -- Bye
I like having a bye week right in the middle in of the season. Knowing the Jets too well, I wouldn't be shocked if we go 1-3 here, losing to Houston, and the Pats, and a lookahead game against Indy sandwiched in between as a possible upset loss.
11/11 -- Sunday -- at Seattle, 4:05 p.m., CBS
11/18 -- Sunday -- at St. Louis, 1 p.m., CBS
11/22 -- Thursday -- New England, 8:20 p.m., NBC
12/2 -- Sunday -- Arizona, 1 p.m.*, FOX*
The team should be able build up steam here, going 4-0 in this stretch, with 3 winnable games. A marquee matchup against the Pats on Turkey Day at home, where we usually play them well, could be a highlight of our season.
12/9 -- Sunday -- at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.*, CBS*
12/17 -- Monday -- at Tennessee, 8:30 p.m., ESPN
12/23 -- Sunday -- San Diego, 8:20 p.m.*, NBC*
12/30 -- Sunday -- at Buffalo, 1 p.m.*, CBS*
The Jets finish up an easy second half schedule, with the only true test coming against the Chargers week 16.
I can see the Jets going 10-6, playing a pretty fair schedule. We get lucky playing some easier games on the road (Seahawks, Rams, Jaguars, Titans) while playing tougher teams at home (49ers, Texans, Chargers). That should be good enough to make the Wild Card in a competitive AFC.
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