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ROY JONES JR., ANTHONY PETTIS & JORGE MASVIDAL VIRTUAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES & VIDEO PREVIEWING GAMEBRED BOXING EVENT

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Boxing Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr. Takes On MMA Legend Anthony Pettis Saturday, April 1 Headlining “Gamebred Boxing 4” Pay-Per-View Event from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee & Presented by Jorge Masvidal’s Gamebred Boxing

MILWAUKEE – March 15, 2023 – Combat sport legends Roy Jones Jr. and Anthony Pettis previewed their upcoming pro boxing clash during a virtual press conference Wednesday before they go toe-to-toe on Saturday, April 1 headlining the “Gamebred Boxing 4” pay-per-view event from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee in an event presented by Jorge Masvidal’s Gamebred Boxing.

The pay-per-view can be purchased through InDEMAND, PPV.com and UFC Fight Pass PPV, with tickets to the live event available through FiservForum.com. Additional event details will be announced shortly.

In the main event, the Boxing Hall of Famer Jones and the former UFC and WEC World Champion Pettis will go toe-to-toe in an intriguing clash of two of combat sports’ most skilled, accomplished and popular champions, as Milwaukee’s Pettis looks to put on a memorable performance for his hometown fans.

Here is what the virtual press conference participants had to say Wednesday:

ROY JONES JR.

“I wanted to fight Anderson Silva back in the day, but it kept getting pushed to the side. When they told me about the Pettis fight, it was intriguing. He’s done things in MMA that no one has ever done. To face someone else with the same kind of creative mind, I couldn’t say no to it.

“He’s different and he’s very creative with his style. He knows what he’s doing. He’s sparring with guys like former world champion Caleb Plant. That’s the right kind of sparring. He’s not playing boxing, he’s serious about it.

“I feel like I was the first person to come up with the crossover boxing vs. MMA fight idea, but I never got to do it. This was the perfect opportunity. I know that he’s gonna go hard with his boxing, because he’s facing one of the greats. If I were playing Michael Jordan one-on-one, I’d put everything into it.  

“My game is to help put on an awesome card for the people. My goal in boxing has always been to give the people what they want to see.

“I love the fact that I get to fight in a place I’ve never been. They have the Greek Freak [Giannis Antetokounmpo] there, and we’re both freaks in the ring, so why not make it happen? When you get the opportunity, you gotta shoot, and that’s what we do.

“I’m older, but I’m still wise. What better way for him to learn boxing than against someone who knows basically everything about the sport?”

ANTHONY PETTIS

“It’s crazy to be in this position and be fighting Roy Jones Jr. in my first boxing fight. This is a challenge I’ve been waiting for. You can’t say no to an opportunity like this. This is the kind of challenge that wakes me up every morning and makes me want to bring it.

“I’m just straight boxing now. I’m finding the best boxers I can spar with here in Las Vegas. I’m living the lifestyle. How could you not be motivated when facing a guy like Roy? I come to win fights and that’s the goal April 1.

“I’ve done so much in MMA, but I grew up watching fights like Oscar De La Hoya vs. Felix Trinidad. Watching that is why I got into combat sports. Now that I have this opportunity, I’m hiring the right guys and doing everything I need to do to take this 100% seriously.

“I’ve been working a lot to adjust to fighting at a bigger weight. I was already in fight shape coming into camp, because this is just such a great opportunity. I feel like I’m getting used to the pressure that he’s gonna bring. I’m gonna use the smarts and skills I’ve accumulated over the years and try to put it on him.

“If you look at my UFC career, I fought the best of the best. That’s exactly what I’m bringing to my boxing career. These are the kind of challenges I want.

“I’m testing myself against one of the greats. So this would be huge for MMA as a sport. I’m not going to let this slip through my fingers. I think you’re going to be surprised by my skillset.”

JORGE MASVIDAL, CEO of Gamebred Boxing

“I’m so pumped. I can’t believe I’m looking at Roy and Pettis and it’s all coming to life. I remember Dean and I were having a conversation about this happening months ago, and now it’s happening.

“I’ve been watching Roy since I was a kid, and being a Florida guy, we really go hard for him. We’re so happy to be able to put this together. Pettis is one of the greatest 155 pounders I’ve ever seen. These styles are a great mesh, because they both know how to be flashy.

“I can’t believe this flight is about to take place. Props to everyone for stepping up, especially the fighters, because if it weren’t for them it wouldn’t be happening.

“I know Pettis has been focusing on striking for a while now, and I can’t wait to see how one of my MMA brothers does against one of the greatest boxers to ever live.

“We just want to put on the best cards possible and that’s what this feels like. After a long week’s work, am I gonna shell out the money for this card? When I look at this card, I’d definitely pay for this. This is history for any combat sports enthusiast.”

DEAN TOOLE, President of Gamebred Boxing

“This is only the second event ever that UFC Fight Pass has promoted through a digital pay-per-view, with the other being Mayweather vs. McGregor. That says a lot about how big this event is.

“This fight card is absolutely stacked. We have UFC and Strikeforce world champions, UFC veterans and one of the greatest boxers to ever do it, just to name a few. We have an incredible lineup and I can’t wait to hear from these amazing fighters today.

“We’re also going to have real boxing prospects and up-and-comers on this card. These types of fights will put eyeballs on upcoming boxers who will eventually be headlining these cards.”

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For more information on Gamebred Boxing visit www.gamebredboxing.com, and follow on Twitter @Gamebredboxing, on Instagram @GamebredFC and on their YouTube Channel.

Bellator, boxing, mixed martial arts, MMA, Rich Bergeron, Tom Padgett, Tony Penecale

FNU Combat Sports Show: Boxing and MMA Wrap up And Weekend Preview

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Rich, Tony and Tom discuss last week’s busy boxing and MMA schedule and look forward to some incredible match-ups this weekend in combat sports. We also briefly discuss Jose Aldo refusing to believe the hype behind Bjorn Rebney and Georges St. Pierre uniting some other UFC stars to start the MMAAA.

mixed martial arts, UFC, women's MMA

UFC 185: It’s Showtime!

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Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale/USA Today Sports

Despite the turmoil experienced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship so far this year, from the failed drug tests of stars like Jon Jones, Anderson Silva and Nick Diaz, to the reshuffling of UFC 184 because of an injury to middleweight champion Chris Weidman, the company has delivered in the Octagon so far this year. Despite Weidman’s injury, UFC 184 was still a smashing success thanks to another dominant performance by women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey.

Now UFC 185 is here, with another stacked card that should entertain once again. This card is anchored by TWO title fights, taking fans back to a time when the UFC would routinely offer stacked fight cards before rapid expansion under their deal with FOX apparently created an oversaturated product.

Here’s who I think emerges victorious on this talent-filled card.

Chris “Kamikaze” Cariaso (17-6) vs. Henry “The Messenger” Cejudo (7-0) (Flyweight – 125 lbs.)

Cariaso is coming off a submission loss to flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson last summer. But to be fair, everyone is losing to Johnson these days, and he’s close to cleaning out the flyweight division. Cejudo has yet to experience defeat and enjoyed a unanimous decision victory in his UFC debut late last year.

Cariaso has been a UFC and World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) veteran for the last five years and rode a 3-fight win streak prior to his loss to Johnson. Cejudo is a young pup trying to make a name for himself in the UFC, but Cariaso will use his veteran savvy to catch the overeager fighter for a finish.

Winner: Cariaso by second-round TKO

Roy “Big Country” Nelson (21-10) vs. Alistair “The Reem” Overeem (38-14-1) (Heavyweight – 225 lbs.)

I’ll admit up front that I’m not a big Roy Nelson fan. He’s a talented fighter who delivers exciting fights and is an entertaining personality. But ever since he debuted in the UFC and won season 10 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” he feasted on lower-ranked heavyweights like Stefan Struve, Brendan Schaub and Matt Mitrione. But when matched up with elite heavyweights like Fabricio Werdum, Junior Dos Santos and Daniel Cormier (before he dropped to light heavyweight), Nelson was routinely outclassed and battered.

Overeem has also failed to live up to the hype that came with his jump to the UFC. After he demolished Brock Lesnar in 2011, a title shot was in the works against then-champion Junior Dos Santos. But the fight never materialized due to injuries and Overeem suffered back-to-back knockout losses to Antonio Silva and Travis Browne.

Overeem has alternated wins and losses since then but is coming off a first-round knockout of Struve. Nelson was knocked out in his last fight against Mark Hunt, which despite Nelson’s usually iron chin, does not come as a shock, given Hunt’s incredible punching power.
Overeem may not have Hunt’s power, but I think he will batter Nelson for a rather lopsided decision victory. At this stage in his career, Nelson is a gatekeeper. But “The Reem” doesn’t need to prove himself against a brawler like Nelson.

Winner: Overeem by unanimous decision

Johny “Bigg Rigg” Hendricks (16-3) vs. Matt “The Immortal” Brown (21-12) (Welterweight – 170 lbs.)

Speaking of brawling and battering, this fight has all the makings of a Fight of the Year candidate. Hendricks dropped the welterweight title to Robbie Lawler last year and should he win this fight, a rematch with Lawler is all but assured – assuming Lawler gets past Rory McDonald later this year.

Brown also lost to Lawler in his last fight and was also on the receiving end of a brutal beating. Hendricks and Brown tend to just slug it out and ask questions later, which should result in an entertaining fight for the fans. Hendricks seems to have renewed his commitment to MMA following his loss to Lawler and he seems driven to get his belt back. Brown is as game as they come, but Hendricks will prove to be too much.

Winner: Hendricks by second-round TKO

Carla “Cookie Monster” Esparza (11-2) vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk (8-0) (Women’s Strawweight Title – 115 lbs.)

Esparza made her UFC debut with a bang by winning the first season of “The Ultimate Fighter” to feature all female fighters, and in the process become the UFC’s first women’s strawweight champion. She effectively derailed the Rose Namajunas hype train to win the belt, when some were dubbing Namajunas the next Ronda Rousey in the strawweight division.

Jedrzejczyk derailed a favorite in her own right, defeating highly regarded Claudia Gadelha last year by a close decision when many thought Gadelha would be Esparza’s first title defense. Jedrzejczyk is a grinder who thrives in an ugly fight in close quarters. Esparza used her wrestling to neutralize Namajunas’ quick-striking offense, so getting into an ugly fight with Jedrzejczyk shouldn’t faze Esparza one bit. Esparza will take Jedrzejczyk down early and often and ride her wrestling to a decision victory.

Winner: Esparza by unanimous decision

Anthony “Showtime” Pettis (18-2) vs. Rafael Dos Anjos (23-7) (Lightweight Title – 155 lbs.)

Pettis has been absolutely dominant as of late, not only winning the lightweight title from Benson Henderson in quick and exciting fashion with a first-round armbar but routinely displaying his amazing athleticism and using it to quickly shoot himself up the best pound-for-pound fighter list.

But Dos Anjos is not to be taken lightly. He too finished Henderson in the first round and earned his title shot by absolutely dismantling Nate Diaz late last year. Dos Anjos is tough and will know that Pettis is looking for a quick finish. He won’t get it, but Pettis’ freakish athleticism will make its presence felt eventually and overcome Dos Anjos and solidify Pettis’ case as one of the best lightweight fighters of all time.

Winner: Pettis by second-round submission

Chris Huntemann writes about mixed martial arts in the state of Maryland. He also shares his thoughts on the UFC, Bellator, and World Series of Fighting. Check out his blog, or follow him on Twitter: @mmamaryland.