If forced to choose a fighter at 205 pounds with the best chance to defeat Jon Jones, Frank Mir would put his money on Alexander Gustafsson.
MMA:30’s Dave Farra recently spoke with the former UFC heavyweight champion about the UFC 145 main event, Dan Henderson’s chances against Jones and Gustafsson as a potential future contender.
When asked about Jones’ win over Evans, Mir said, “There were a few moments there when it looked like Rashad [Evans] might’ve done something, but for the most part, I think Jones pretty much shut him down and controlled the fight.”
“If you want to nullify a guy’s reach,” he said, “you gotta move in on him, close the gap and stay close, backing up and fighting at Jones’ distance, I don’t think anybody in the world can fight Jones at a far distance and come away effective. He just has too many weapons from the outside.”
Evans learned about those weapons the hard way, as he was completely picked apart for all 25 minutes of the championship bout.
The light heavyweight division was once considered the deepest in the sport, but Jones’ dominance is causing the once-stacked division to crumble.
It’s becoming harder and harder to find fresh contenders for the young phenom, despite him having only defended his belt three times.
At 41 years of age, MMA legend Dan Henderson will be the next light heavyweight to step up against Jones.
There is some hope in Henderson’s thunderous right hand and world-class wrestling. But overall, it seems like a long shot for the former Pride middleweight champion to get his hand raised.
“I think Henderson obviously has the grappling credentials to where he can close the distance,” Mir said. “I just wonder how he’s going to. I don’t think has ever been an explosively quick fighter.”
“He’s just very powerful,” Mir said. “If he hits you, he can take you out, but to be able to land that punch on someone with that much reach, and the youth and speed is on Jones’ side too. I think one of the quickest guys at 205 was Rashad, when he’s fresh, an explosively quick guy, and he had a hard time getting in on [Jones].”
Mauricio Rua, Quinton Jackson, Lyoto Machida and now Rashad Evans are all down for the count. If Henderson can’t beat Jones, who else is there?
“As far as names of whoever could possibly compete with Jones, I would put [Gustafsson] at the top of the list,” Mir said. “The guy is incredibly long and tall himself and just really strong.
“I didn’t get to grapple with him personally, but I’ve seen him get grabbed by a few guys that I’ve rolled with that I know have some pretty good strength and power and technique and Gustafsson, without even grimacing at his face, was pretty effortlessly able to throw them around. I was really impressed.”
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