Following UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones‘ impressive victory over former champion Lyoto Machida at UFC 140, the 24-year-old has either been loved or hated by MMA fans.
The type of success Jones has found within the past year has included becoming a UFC Champion and defending the light heavyweight title twice—the first to do so since Chuck Liddell held the title from 2005 to 2007.
Many have been quick to find any reason to dislike the dominant champion, and there isn’t much to not like him for. He has been respectful to each of his opponents following his victories, including his most recent.
Jones gave praise to his opponent following the victory via Twitter.
“Lyoto, they don’t do men like you, champions. You’re a truth warrior and a champion in life. It was an honor to be on the same cage as you,” wrote Jones, in Portuguese.
Jones had his toughest test to date this past weekend, and his Brazilian opponent even won the first round against him in many fans’ eyes.
Jones was able to get Machida down in the second round and cut him open with a vicious elbow. It was the beginning of the end for Machida, and Jones choked him unconscious with a guillotine choke soon after.
With his latest victory under his belt, Jones has gone 4-0 in 2011 with wins over Machida, Quinton Jackson, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Ryan Bader. Many have called it the best single year for any fighter in MMA.
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