Page 22 - aruba-today-20190706

A22 SPORTS
Saturday 6 July 2019
The best ever? Jones, Nunes could make cases at UFC 239

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Any at- Fight Week pay-per-view
tempt to choose the most show. Here are more things
dominant active fighter in to know about UFC 239:
mixed martial arts inevita- SHUT HIM UP: The biggest
bly leads to a choice be- personal grudge on the
tween two champions: Jon card is between unbeaten
Jones or Amanda Nunes. welterweight Ben Askren
Any discussion of the great- and veteran challenger
est fighters in MMA history Jorge Masvidal. They have
must include Jones and exchanged insults through-
Nunes as well. They simply out the promotion of a fight
have been too good for that's likely to lead to a title
too long — and beaten too shot for the winner. "In all
many fellow giants of the my fights, I've never had
sport — to be left out. this many people come up
When they fight on the to me and beg me to end
same card Saturday night a guy," Masvidal said. "I had
in Las Vegas, the joint show- somebody ask me to turn
case provides an opportu- his face into a sinkhole, to
nity for fans to see great- leave one side of his face
ness at its possible peak. no longer looking like the
UFC 239 is also another other side."
chance to see whether RETURN OF THE ROCK: For-
Jones or Nunes will finally In this March 1, 2019, file photo, Jon Jones poses during the ceremonial UFC 235 mixed martial mer middleweight champ
fall from the perches they arts weigh-in event in Las Vegas. Luke Rockhold makes his
have occupied for so long Associated Press light heavyweight debut in
atop MMA. his return from a 17-month
"It only takes one fight, one said. "I know what we need ing a factor. Jones, who years ago. absence against Poland's
punch, one slip to change to do to beat him." turns 32 later this month, is Holm was a professional Jan Blachowicz. Rockhold
a lot of things," Jones said Santos was a middleweight in his third fight in just over boxer for years, but Nunes believes he can easily
this week. less than a year ago, but he six months. He is still making is a formidable puncher beat almost anyone at 205
Right before Jones (24- moved up to light heavy- up for the lost time and in- who easily dispatched the pounds, but Blachowicz is a
1, 1 no-contest) defends weight last September come of his late 20s, when aggressive Cyborg. Holm powerful puncher.
his light heavyweight title and promptly knocked out he managed to be eligible isn't likely to wade into an GO DIEGO GO: UFC veteran
against Brazil's Thiago San- three straight opponents to for just four fights in a five- immediate brawl, as Cy- Diego Sanchez has been in
tos (21-6) in the main event earn this title shot. His 8½- year span amid numerous borg did, and her kickbox- rare form before his show-
at T-Mobile Arena, Nunes inch reach disadvantage failed doping tests and out- ing acumen is likely to force down with Michael Chiesa,
(17-4) faces former cham- against Jones could be his side-the-cage misbehavior. Nunes to be more patient. cutting wrestling-style pro-
pion Holly Holm (12-4) in the biggest obstacle, because "It's a really good story, I But Nunes has shown mos and theatrically staring
fourth defense of her ban- Jones knows how to use his know," Jones said. "It has its the discipline and men- down his opponent at ev-
tamweight belt. oversized frame to full ad- drama, and I'm hoping it tal toughness to stick to a ery opportunity. The brawl-
While Jones and Nunes are vantage against any op- has a happy ending." game plan, and Holm will loving Sanchez is rarely in a
both favored to win, their ponent. Nunes is fighting for the first be forced to be resource- boring fight, but Chiesa has
matchups come with sig- Santos is an extremely mus- time since she became a ful. looked dangerous with his
nificant worries. Both chal- cular light heavyweight, two-division champion with "I'm ready for anything she move to welterweight.
lengers overcame major and he likely has more her stunning 51-second can bring to me," Nunes GILBACK: Gilbert Melendez
obstacles simply to reach raw punching power than knockout of Cris "Cyborg" said. "We've studied her, hasn't won a fight since Oc-
this stage, and they're un- anyone Jones has faced Justino. Although Holm has but more important, I know tober 2013, but the loqua-
likely to be daunted by the recently. The champ is lost four of her last six fights, what I need to do. I've cious 37-year-old veteran
aura of the greats standing appropriately wary of the she got this title shot on the been here before." returns from a 22-month ab-
across from them. prospect of an early knock- strength of her talent and The two title fights are just sence to fight Arnold Allen
"He has a lot of great ac- out. the fame that still lingers the main attractions on a in the final preliminary bout
complishments, but he's There also is the small pos- from her shocking upset of star-studded card for the on ESPN before the pay-
just a man like me," Santos sibility of fatigue becom- Ronda Rousey nearly four UFC's annual International per-view show begins.q

Ex-Patriot, ESPN analyst Bruschi

recovering after 2nd stroke

ATTLEBORO, Mass. (AP) — arm weakness, face droop- that produced a hole in his
Former New England Pa- ing and speech difficulties. heart. He had surgery to
triots linebacker and ESPN Bruschi was admitted to repair the hole and retired.
analyst Tedy Bruschi is re- Sturdy Memorial Hospital in But he sat out less than a
covering in a Massachu- Attleboro, where his family year before returning for
setts hospital after suffering said Friday he was "recov- the seventh game of the
a second stroke. ering well." 2005 season.
His family says in a state- Bruschi had a stroke in Feb- He played three more sea-
ment the 46-year-old suf- ruary 2005 just days after sons with the Patriots and
In this Jan. 29, 2014, file photo, Tedy Bruschi speaks during an fered the stroke Thursday the Patriots won the Super announced his retirement
interview at the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII media center in New York. and immediately recog- Bowl and learned he had just before the start of the
Associated Press
nized the warning signs of a congenital heart defect 2009 season. q