The anticipation couldn’t get any bigger for Jon Jones.
The UFC light heavyweight champion is set to defend the title against Rashad Evans, a former longtime teammate and friend, at UFC 145 in April.
Since Evans’ departure from Greg Jackson’s last year, both fighters have endured separate paths to their title bout but have become better, well-rounded fighters. However it is Jones who believes that Evans’ trash-talk is fueled by jealously and a lack of confidence in himself.
“Jealousy fuels Rashad,” Jones said during a pre-fight interview on UFC.com. “I think it’s very weak emotionally on his part. That’s why I can’t wait for this fight to be over.”
It is evident that Jones has done his best to let his counter part do all the talking leading up to their bout in Atlanta. Evans has confronted the champion on several occasions and has even revealed incidents involving himself and the 24-year-old Jones where Evans would seemingly get the better of him in sparring sessions.
But despite Jones’ calm demeanor, he has now expressed his feelings towards Evans and is upset over the way he has been portrayed and mistreated by the former light heavyweight champion.
Jones said Evans’ antics have become tiresome and he intends on finishing his opponent and looking ahead to his next challenge.
“Rashad is the one who looks at this whole story like, you know, this guy’s went off and created his own team and he’s left the people who were there for him in the beginning. He’s the one who is going through this whirlwind in life right now,” Jones said. “And I just can’t wait to put him out of his misery and solidify me being the light heavyweight champion and telling him to go have a seat somewhere.”
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