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Jon Jones spoke about his controversial win at UFC 247.
Jon Jones took home a controversial decision at the main event of UFC 247, officially defending his belt against Dominick Reyes and setting a record for most UFC title victories. While many have contested the scores — especially the wide 49-46 card — Jones contends that he won the contest and would be open to a rematch.
“I don’t think Dominick had any excuses for losing tonight,” Jones said on the press conference (transcript via MMA Fighting). “He lost. It was close but they say close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades. He can try 1,000 times, and I believe I’ll edge him every single time.”
While at the time, Jones says he has yet to rewatch the contest, he says he won the decision because of his wrestling.
“I got takedowns. He got no takedowns. I got his back. At one point I put a hook in,” Jones argued. “The fifth round, I was surprised in the output difference we had. I have to watch the fight.”
For what it’s worth, Jones only landed his two total takedowns during the fourth and fifth rounds. In the first three stanzas that many thought Reyes won, official stats show that Jones was zero out of four on takedown attempts.
To Jones’ credit, he truly did turn it up in the latter rounds, with the veteran title holder thriving on what they aptly call the “championship rounds.”
“It was a great feeling out process. I realized I got to take his best punches. I think my chin is very underrated,” he said.
“I wasn’t always confident that I was winning the fight,” Jones explained. “I was confident that I wasn’t going to be giving up or slowing down. Greg Jackson said to me, ‘Jon, you may need to win this fifth round to win.’ And that heart of a champion said, ‘No problem, coach. I got that. I can do that for you. I can leave it all out there.’
“I think I displayed the difference between a champion and an extraordinary contender. He had all the tools. But something special happens when it’s time for the champion to present himself. You guys saw it tonight in the fifth round.”