UFC vs MMA

Retirement is inevitable for every athlete. Whether it's voluntary or forced is up to the athlete. In fighting, it's too often forced. There's no exact age or time. Some guys have to walk away in their early 30's, others like the incredible Randy Couture, make it into their late 40's. The end of the 2011 was unkind to several legends of MMA who are past their 34th birthdays. As a result, their careers are gasping for their last breath of air. In 2012, we could see the end of the road for Tito Ortiz, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Matt Hughes. Then there's Brock Lesnar. He's not a legend, but he is the pay-per-view king of the sport and yet his future could be in question following UFC 141. Lesnar has battled serious health issues and after his loss to Cain Velasquez 15 months ago, many question his passion for the sport. During our "The MMA Insiders" show on ESPN1100/98.9 FM in Las Vegas, Yahoo! Sports' Kevin Iole, MMA analyst Frank Trigg and my...

Jon Jones still has much to accomplish at light heavyweight, but as 2012 moves along there could be more and more talk of the 6-foot-4, 24-year-old seeking fights outside the division. It's very unlikely to happen in 2012, but what if Jones moved to heavyweight? Adam Hill penned a thought provoking piece for ESPN.com (premium access required). Hill spoke with Las Vegas and off-shore oddsmakers to ask what the odds would be if Jones locked horns with any of the top five heavyweights in the world. The guys who set the numbers were split on their opinion of a Jones move up. Rob Akers, who used to set the numbers for the Venetian Sports Book, agreed with off-shore bookmaker Bovado (formerly Bodogsports.net) and said Jones would be a sizable dog against the top big boys in the world (featured odds in the graphic). Bovada's expert Kevin Bradley makes UFC heavyweight champ the biggest favorite against Jones. "Junior dos Santos' striking power makes him a significant favorite...