MMA ODDS AND ENDS FOR TUESDAY: JONES INJURED, BOUT WITH CORMIER PUSHED TO JANUARY

It seems UFC 178 simply isn’t meant to be the blockbuster event everybody had it pegged as since way back in March, when Alexander Gustafsson recovered his #1 contender’s slot with a success over Jimi Manuwa. Few watched Jon Jones’ April name defense against Glover Teixeira as more than a mere detour on the road to Jones/Gustafsson 2, and the masses were right. Although it took some time to decide on a certain date and venue, the bout was highly expected whenever and where it would happen. Then, all of a sudden, Alexander Gustafsson has been made to drop from this struggle with a torn meniscus. No problem, in stepped Daniel Cormier to take his own position and the MMA planet was even more enthusiastic. Then the infamous media day brawl happened, and UFC 178 became a must-watch event for more than just the MMA community. It had the kind of buzz which number of UFC events garner, and likely would have become the largest grossing light heavyweight bout since Quinton Jackson vs. Rashad Evans back at UFC 114. Obviously, things seldom visit program in MMA, and even the backup plans fall through occasionally. Jon Jones announced yesterday that he also was hurt in training and pressured out of UFC 178. The company has rescheduled Jones and Cormier to headline UFC 182 in January, where they will likely share the card with Ronda Rousey in a year-end (or beginning ) card that hearkens back to the days of piled events across the New Year. The one issue with all of this yet, is that this was supposed to function as Alexander Gustafsson’s fight all together, and from January he will likely be prepared to proceed. Will the UFC really forego what might be another classic involving Jones and Gustafsson for the dollar signs seemingly evident for Jones and Cormier? It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out during the next few weeks, but early indications are that the Swede is going to wind up a very unhappy camper. Of course in MMA news when it rains, it pours, and it was a busy day outside of the Jones injury. UFC 177 and flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson felt that the domino effect from the accident, as his title defense against Chris Cariaso will be moving to the main event of UFC 178. Understanding that fans will be frustrated with the shift, Johnson tweeted (tongue-in-cheek),”Bad: you’ll have to wait a little longer to see me triumph again. Good: I am the newest UFC 178 headliner. Bout time that card gets a real principal event.” To fill out UFC 177, the company has put together a bout between a pair of highly touted champions from the regional circuit. Former Bellator and Tachi Palace Fights champion Joe Soto will compete just three weeks after his most recent bout, and he’ll be taking on former MFC champion Anthony Birchak in a few of the better fights between UFC newcomers that has been produced in 2014. The bantamweights will probably fill out a place on the UFC Fight Pass prelims. Soto’s old marketing also announced a pair of spells yesterday, as heavy hitters Doug Marshall and Melvin Manhoef will headline Bellator 125 on September 19th. While this bout is of nearly zero relevance in any sort of divisional rankings, it should be violent and fun for however long it lasts. Following in precisely the same mould is the co-main occasion on the card comprising Brian Rogers and James Irvin, just two of the guys discovered on any highlight reel of flying in MMA history. Betting lines will likely lean towards Manhoef and Rogers in their respective bouts, since they are the talented strikers in what ought to be exclusively striking contests. A set of AXS TV promotions declared upcoming bouts too, together with Legacy FC 37 being headlined by two of its former champions, Leonard Garcia and Daniel Pineda. Garcia simply lost his featherweight belt to Damon Jackson at Legacy FC 33, and Pineda — a former lightweight and featherweight champ from the advertising — was just re-signed after being cut out of the UFC. It is quite probable that Jackson is going to be signed into the UFC earlier this bout occurs on November 14th, and if that is the situation this could determine a new champion as well. After Garcia’s quick loss in his last outing, anticipate the people to prefer Pineda, and he will probably open as a small favorite. RFA continues their tour across the Western United States as RFA 18 takes place at Albuquerque, New Mexico on September 12th. The event will be headlined by flyweight champion Matt Manzanares defends his belt against undefeated Albuquerque native Joby Sanchez. Sanchez only knocked off Antonio Banuelos a week at Tachi Palace Fights 20, and will probably be taking this bout on just over a month’s notice. This line should be close, but the public may push it slightly towards Manzanares simply because he’s the more well-known of both.