Filed under: UFC
Two years ago, I became one of the first people aboard the Jon Jones bandwagon. At the time, I’d just watched the largely unknown Jones win his UFC debut, beating Andre Gusmao by decision in a UFC 87 prelim. Beforehand, I’d heard bits and pieces about Jones’ athleticism, work ethic and drive, and as the fight went on, I found myself impressed by what I was watching. Jones was not polished, but there was no denying his raw tools.
And then there was his poise. Only 21 years old, with just a few months of training under his belt, and fighting on three weeks’ notice, he didn’t portray a hint of nervousness while fighting before 15,000 people. After it was over, and he was declared the winner by decision, I texted my cameraman John Moody (at the time I was working for NBC), and told him that we needed to interview Jones. The kid, I said, was definitely going to be somebody.
Five fights later, Jones has yet to disappoint. And even though I’ve spent quite a bit of time writing about Jones’ incredible promise, I also think it’s very necessary to slow down the hype train a bit as he steams towards contender status.