*UPDATE* Unsubstantiated Rumor: KJ Noons Signs With UFC, Debut Set for 4/1 Against Melvin Guillard
by Brett Jones on Jan 13, 2009 6:01 PM EST
73 comments
Promoted to the front page from the FanPosts by Luke Thomas. Editor's note: I have no evidence to suggest this scoop is manufactured, but I've had some concerns about the accuracy of some of the claims coming from MMABay. I am not trying to be adversarial, but until this story is corroborated by another source I have some suspicions.
Michael Pepper of MMABay has the rather large news on this relatively small competitor:
The UFC are set to sign one of the hottest free agents in MMA in KJ Noons, the former EliteXC lightweight champion, MMABay can EXCLUSIVELY reveal.
Noons was stripped of the title last year after refusing to defend it in a rematch against former UFC fighter, Nick Diaz. His contract expired last week, making him one of the most wanted free agents on the MMA scene.
Rumour has it that the former pro-boxer could debut at UFC Fight Night 18 against Melvin Guillard. With Noons one of the best strikers in the lightweight division, he could very well make a massive impact in an already stacked division.
Just a few months ago Noons was complaining that Gary Shaw had forgone an agreement to promote Noons boxing career, something which he seemed very serious about perusing after his falling out with EliteXC. With this announcement, it appears Noons has decided to go in a different route, throwing himself in the mix with some of the very best lightweight fighters in the MMA world.
It's no secret that Noons' strength is his stand up. Hence his stated interest in returning to boxing. Noons was able to force a doctor stoppage by bludgeoning Nick Diaz about the face, and earned a quick TKO victory over former UFC and EliteXC Lightweight contender Yves Edwards. Those, of course, are two solid wins for any fighter to have on their resume, particularly one who is still relatively new to the sport as is Noons, who holds just a 7-2-0 record in MMA competition.
Now that Noons has signed with the UFC, two very important questions come to mind. First, is Noons the truth, or was he merely a large fish in a small pond? Second, will the Noons/Diaz feud extend to the Octagon, leading to a match against Nate Diaz? The former we should find the answer to relatively quickly. Hopefully, the latter will be answered both quickly and affirmatively as well.
(art via www.fcfighter.com)
UPDATE: A source close to Noons says the rumors are false. Yet another reason never to believe anything from MMA Bay. And you can quote me on that, take it to the bank and cash it.
UPDATE 2: I am hearing from another source that the rumor of Noons fighting Guillard did not come from anyone within Noons' camp. Stay tuned.
The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.
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Wow.
Basically every single blogger who said he was being stupid for dumping the EliteXC belt needs to own up and admit that KJ Noons is smarter than them.
If I said it at any point, my bad, KJ!
by Michaelthebox on Jan 13, 2009 4:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I didn’t necessarily think dumping the EliteXC belt was dumb. I did think foregoing a rematch with Nick Diaz was dumb, particularly with the heat that existed for the match and the reasoning KJ provided for doing so (that KJ had already beat him once and Diaz did not deserve another shot). I also felt it was silly to pursue a boxing career given his success in EliteXC.
I am very happy to see him coming to the UFC, and the fight against Guillard should be a slugfest.
"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard
by Brett Jones on Jan 13, 2009 4:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
By “dumping the EliteXC belt” I meant the whole combination of things he weaseled out of, including the Nick Diaz rematch. At the time, it looked like a bad idea. But now, he has a contract with the UFC, while the other fighters are stuck in limbo for who knows how long. KJ Noons: 1. Us: 0.
by Michaelthebox on Jan 13, 2009 4:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
it was dumb. he gave up a chance to fight on national TV in what would likely have been a great fight. if he beats diaz on cbs he’d be jumping straight into contention with the ufc, fighting a fellow up-and-comer like nate diaz rather than a gatekeeper (at best) on an UFN card.
that being said, i like noons a lot. he kind-of reminds me of chuck liddell with his lethal counter-striking and get-back-up takedown defense.
by Trust Doesn't Rust on Jan 13, 2009 6:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
What about the rumor that he had to sign an extension to fight on CBS?
If he saw the writing on the wall and bailed out before he got stuck in contract hell, you can’t do anything but say it was a smart move.
by Phildo on Jan 13, 2009 6:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Oh shit, son
Reccedy rec rec’d.
The LW division is still lacking some top talent (though I’m glad to piss on the burning cars of the derailed Alvarez hype train), but this does nothing but help, and Guillard is a perfect test for KJ. Then, you make the Diaz fight happen. Period.
by subo on Jan 13, 2009 4:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
MMA Bay is a really shitty source, I wouldn’t get excited unless a credible site picks this up
by smoogy on Jan 13, 2009 5:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Seems like he’s done with his boxing career since he’s signed with the UFC.
by Discman2 on Jan 13, 2009 4:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I Take My Oh Shit Back.
http://mma4real.net/
by Tha Realness on Jan 13, 2009 7:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I wouldn’t believe anything that mmabay says. They constantly posts rumours which later occur to be not true.
by Venom77 on Jan 13, 2009 4:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Yea I’d like to see some confirmation as it’s hard to believe that Dana White sat down with Mark Dion to discuss a fighter contract.
by who me on Jan 13, 2009 5:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Nice, if true.
Did you know we are in high demand, Laura?
by Eugene Schelfaut on Jan 13, 2009 6:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
AWESOME!!
Let’s hope this 100% true, because that fight could be electric.
by "Mr. NC-17" on Jan 13, 2009 6:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
This appears to have started as a rumor on the Underground. It was cited to Sherdog’s Savage Dog show, but that was total crap since that show never mentioned any such thing.
by Lynchman on Jan 13, 2009 6:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
That better be true. I heart the UFC.
by donkeypunch on Jan 13, 2009 6:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I’m also on board the UFC Fanboy train.
:D
by xFenixKnightx on Jan 13, 2009 6:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
owned
The UFC doesn’t care about fans
Gimme 1 Round!
by skwirrl on Jan 13, 2009 7:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
LOL kitten man
Its nice to be missed
Gimme 1 Round!
by skwirrl on Jan 14, 2009 10:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That’s really outta left field. I would guessed that his asking price was too high. It’s a good place for him, and it’ll be interesting to see how well he does.
by Rundownloser on Jan 13, 2009 6:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I’m just glad to see Guillard back. Welcome to the UFC Noons.
by steveoc24 on Jan 13, 2009 6:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I don't believe this for a minute
4/1?
April Fool’s Day?
by Kid Nate on Jan 13, 2009 6:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
good point...
It’s on a Wednesday so they would probably be headlining an UFN live if this info is true.
by steveoc24 on Jan 13, 2009 6:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
You don’t announce an April Fools joke in January.
by MattTil on Jan 13, 2009 6:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Escudero vs. Stephens is slated for April 1st.
But, the truth of Noons vs. Guillard is still in question.
Did you know we are in high demand, Laura?
by Eugene Schelfaut on Jan 13, 2009 6:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Unless he learns a good double leg, Noons is going to get smashed by Melvin Guillard.
by George Lucas on Jan 13, 2009 6:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
noons vs nate diaz make it happen dana
by prefernottosay on Jan 13, 2009 6:24 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
As a side note: big thumbs up on the gal behind him.
by Rundownloser on Jan 13, 2009 6:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
KJ says he has no idea where this is coming from.
by smoogy on Jan 13, 2009 7:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
mmabay stole this
Mma bay didn’t report this… insidefights.com did. Mma bay and michael pepper steal news and post it as their own every day.
by jbotter on Jan 13, 2009 7:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
If you can prove it, I’ll post it.
by Luke Thomas on Jan 13, 2009 7:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Nice if True
I’m trying to confirm it as we speak. I’ll hopefully know tonight.
by michaelgaryscott on Jan 13, 2009 7:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
MMA Bay is notorious for fabrication.
If true: Guillark by KO, Nate by Triangle.
by godzillad on Jan 13, 2009 7:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I don't know what to make of this...
… so has he been signed, or is there a rumor he is going to be signed? Because the headline of the post reads that he’s been signed, but the quoted bit implies they are set to sign with the UFC. These are two very different things.
I just have some reservation about this, because Noons made a big deal about his boxing when he was with EliteXC. There’s no way he’ll be able to box if he signs with the UFC. So either he’s changed his mind on the boxing, or this is a big sham.
by pud333 on Jan 13, 2009 7:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Jesus. There should be penalties for this kind of phony-balony reporting.
by pud333 on Jan 13, 2009 7:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It doesn't look like it's true.
A guy on the UG says KJ isn’t sure where everything is coming from and he’s focused on boxing.
MMA Bay sucks. I guess their report of Wanderlei moving to middleweight earlier this month isn’t true either.
by michaelgaryscott on Jan 13, 2009 7:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I think this calls for a ban
No more links/posts to MMA Bay. They aren’t a trustworthy enough organization to throw the weight of Bloody Elbow’s traffic behind them, and it could eventually hurt BE’s credibility if they get fooled too many times.
"It's like a flying knuckle sandwich." --Rogan
"And many men have eaten it." -- Goldy
by thetakeover on Jan 13, 2009 8:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
MMA Bay takes the shotgun approach to blogging.
They figure if they post enough shit, eventually they’ll get something right. And the stuff they don’t make up on their own they usually steal from someone else without giving credit, I hope to never see them used as a source again.
by Phildo on Jan 13, 2009 7:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
MMAgay is the worst...
BE would have lost alot of credibility just by promoting something from mmabay to the front page, can give them a pass though as they must not know who mmabay is. It’s a person from the UFC Fight Club forums who fabricated his mom being deathly ill to try and get backstage passes at an event in England (where he’s from yet gets alleged EXCLUSIVES from camps in vegas, etc…bolded exclusive since they steal legit news and type it like that on their site) They’ve spammed the UFC Fight Club forums, Sherdog Forums, and numerous other mma forums non stop, created over 100 accounts on sherdog (no exaggeration)…Some classics from mmabay, and this is not counting that they misspelled almost every fighters name when they first started their “blog”, said Wandy would fight Chuck again at a UFC event to be held January 2nd, that didn’t happen obviously, some others include Kimbo Slice signed with UFC, another classic is then saying they did an interview with different fighters and had in fact made up the entire interviews, fighters lated posted that they had never heard of mmabay and didn’t do any interviews with them, etc…people that visit multiple mma sites know most of the stories of their joke of a site, its a disgrace to the sport and like philido said, hopefully we never see them used as a source again. They have never once had a legit EXCLUSIVE or breaking story, and less than 50% of whats on their site is true, and the stuff that is true they stole from legit sites and posted it as their own…
by Reaser on Jan 13, 2009 7:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
meant capped EXCLUSIVE, not bolded obviously…(that error isn’t as close to as bad anything mmabay has done on their site, Chuck Lidel, Quenton Rampage Jackson and my personal favorite Rashard Evans, damn that site is such a joke)…
by Reaser on Jan 13, 2009 7:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Well, KJ was a genius for a few minutes. Now he’s back to being a dumbass.
Us: back to 1. KJ Noons: back to 0. MMABay: negative infinite.
by Michaelthebox on Jan 13, 2009 7:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
so true
people are so hard on the guy….considering what we now know about EXC I can’t blame him for turning his back on that org
by banter on Jan 13, 2009 7:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Hindsight is 20/20 – no one knew EXC would implode so violently. He gave up national exposure against a big draw of an opponent to box. He got lucky off his bad decision.
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by themachiavellian on Jan 13, 2009 7:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Seriously guys, don’t post anything on the front page when the ONLY source is MMABay.
They should call it “MMABay, we sling shit at the wall, hell, some of it HAS to stick, right?”
by Dexerion on Jan 13, 2009 8:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
MMABay, your EXCLUSIVE source for EXCLUSIVE unfounded rumors.
by yngjzy on Jan 13, 2009 8:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
MMABan
I propose that from now on, MMABay never gets linked or sourced for anything unless there is a second INDEPENDENT source (i.e. somebody else reporting it with new details and confirmation, not just reblogging MMABay’s supposed scoop. This shit is bad for the sport and could hurt fighters’ reputations if they have to defend themselves form charges of ducking a fight when it turns out to be an unfounded rumor in the first place.
"It's like a flying knuckle sandwich." --Rogan
"And many men have eaten it." -- Goldy
by thetakeover on Jan 13, 2009 8:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Note to Brett Jones, Kid Nate, or Luke
You should change the headline to reflect that this rumor has been debunked and that Noons has disavowed it completely. Right now it still takes reading to the bottom of the post to hear that it’s false. Would also love a full report on this hoax when the truth comes out.
"It's like a flying knuckle sandwich." --Rogan
"And many men have eaten it." -- Goldy
by thetakeover on Jan 13, 2009 8:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Brett is likely asleep here on the east coast. I am sure he wouldn’t mine a little help from the mods in changing it.
by szucconi on Jan 13, 2009 9:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Noons rebuts bogus internet rumor of UFC signing
A source close to Noons says rumors he has signed to fight Melvin Guillard at UFN 18.
the rumors are false. Yet another reason never to believe anything from MMA Bay. And you can quote me on that, take it to the bank and cash it.
This is the latest bogus rumor on MMABay to turn out to be Grade A bullshit.
And what does Michael Pepper have to say for himself?
"It's like a flying knuckle sandwich." --Rogan
"And many men have eaten it." -- Goldy
by thetakeover on Jan 13, 2009 8:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Note: second graf is supposed to be block quote
"It's like a flying knuckle sandwich." --Rogan
"And many men have eaten it." -- Goldy
by thetakeover on Jan 13, 2009 8:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Good for UFC . . .
That is was only a rumor. Noons thought Gary Shaw’s terms were harsh? He’d probably be tossed out of the UFC before his first fight. You’ll more likely see Noons in a fist fight with Dana White than an actual fight in UFC.
by bignerd on Jan 13, 2009 8:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Sorry Guys
Saw this mentioned elsewhere and found the first source reporting it. I’ve only recently begun hearing about MMAbay myself and despite questioning the validity of their story, I decided to put it up anyhow.
I haven’t read all of the fan posts yet, but just so we’re clear: Dave Meltzer has said there is no truth to this fight, and the UFC has no interest in Noons.
"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard
by Brett Jones on Jan 13, 2009 10:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Just treat MMABay as if it is MMAScoops from a year ago.
by Simco on Jan 14, 2009 12:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
MMABay takes a shot at BE
Michael Pepper on MMABay finally got around to posting something this morning about KJ Noons denying MMABay’s completely false rumor. He was classy enough to add this at the end:
"Editors note: MMABay will continue to report strong rumours it discovers through its various sources and the internet as more often than not we are proved right. We were, of course, days ahead of anyone reporting Randy’s return, UFC 95 being held in London in February and Luiz Cane facing off with Keith Jardine at UFC 97 in Canada. The reporting of "safe" news we will leave to BloodyElbow.com "
Thank god…now MMABay will maintain their journalistic integrity and stay right at the top of the heap when it comes to fine, respected MMA writing ;)
by Scott Haber on Jan 14, 2009 9:42 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Like I give a flying fuck. Let me know how the “dangerous” news business goes for you, MMA Bay. When no one takes you seriously and you still have no traffic in a year, don’t come crying to me for a writing spot after your shitty site goes belly up.
by Luke Thomas on Jan 14, 2009 11:12 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Hah
Well, you gotta give him one thing, Luke. Bothering to verify stories, speak to people involved – you know, ‘safe’ news – is for pussies. I’d love to see a chart of ‘proven MMABay stories’ versus ‘complete bullshit MMABay stories’ to know if they’re really proved right ‘more often than not.’
Oh, and remind me to never piss you off. Thanks.
by subo on Jan 14, 2009 1:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
They are 0 for the century. Not once have they got a story correct, every single thing they’ve posted they’ve said it was an EXCLUSIVE and anything that they didn’t steal from a legit site/blog they have made up and been wrong, that includes fabricated interviews with fighters as well.
Whats hilarious is they didn’t have anything about Coutures return then after EVERYWHERE had the story they posted it, said they had it exclusive and changed the date of when it was posted making it look like they posted it a week earlier…Place is such a joke, bothers me that they are even getting attention for this, bad publicity is still publicity, they deserve none and are a disgrace to the mma community and actually are bad for the sport cuz if you do google news searches or even some “feeds” have mmabay involved and its all fake/fabricated/made up stories with a few stolen true stories mixed in.
by Reaser on Jan 14, 2009 4:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Looks like KJ is going to be on Sherdog Radio today, hopefully we’ll get some answers. All the hosts there read BE.
by Dexerion on Jan 14, 2009 11:47 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Don't think so...
It would be nice to see KJ busting up Nate Diaz in the UFC along with any other fighter coming his way! Maybe one day UFC/Dana will give Mark Dion/KJ an offer they deserve!!!
by watchout4bombs on Jan 14, 2009 2:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Give them an offer they deserve?
The UFC and Dana White will give Mark Dion and KJ Noons the offer he deserves…. that being no offer at all. KJ Noons is a joke and a disgrace… he can go scrap it up w/ Josh Neer in YAMMA after Mac Danzig disposes of him.
by Gunslinger20 on Jan 14, 2009 5:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Dude. Danzig’s going to get his ass kicked. IMHO, of course.
by subo on Jan 14, 2009 7:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I don't like either of them...
Danzig is the lesser of two evils… I don’t want him to rot in prison while getting violated by a large biker named Duke, while Duke calls him “puppy”…. I certainly hope that for Josh Neer.
by Gunslinger20 on Jan 14, 2009 7:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
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