The phenom that is Jon “Bones” Jones is exuding ample amounts of confidence heading into UFC 140, where he will lock horns with the equally enigmatic Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida.
According to ABS-CBNnews.com, the self-assured UFC light heavyweight champion plans on hanging around for a while yet—that is, after he’s taken care of that Machida business.
“I will defeat Machida,” Jones said. “That’s my destiny: to be UFC champion for many years.”
Jones, who is on a five-fight winning streak and has already had three fights to his name in 2011 alone, is intent on keeping himself in that win column.
In a roller-coaster year for the 24-year-old Greg Jackson trained fighter, he has gone from the periphery of stardom to full MMA superstar.
He submitted Ryan “Darth” Bader, destroyed Mauricio “Shogun” Rua en route to capturing the title and finally was successful in the first defense of his belt when he submitted Quinton “Rampage” Jackson via rear naked choke at UFC 135.
Machida is his last stop before the Christmas festivities begin.
“I always knew I’d fight Lyoto one day,” he said, per UFC.com.
The Dragon, who has been in intensive training for what might turn out to be the toughest fight of his career, has been on the road to redemption ever since he had his light heavyweight crown cruelly snatched from his grasp by Shogun at UFC 113.
Since that night, Machida has gone 1-1 in the Zuffa-based company—a decision loss to Rampage and a knockout win over Randy “The Natural” Couture.
Machida is as unorthodox as Jones is—he’s got the speed, the elusiveness and the unpredictability to boot.
Still, Jones believes his own style and skill set will see him prevail come fight night.
“He’s unpredictable, and he’s fast. Lyoto works distance and I love distance, but I’ve got longer limbs and I believe I’m just as fast,” the 6’4” MMA champion said.
“I have tons of confidence and faith on my wrestling abilities against Lyoto…I have tons of versatility in my takedowns from the clinch,” Jones said.
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