Jon Jones methodically dismantled Rampage Jackson at UFC 136 like everyone expected him to. His striking was top quality, and he was clearly dictating the pace of the fight.
Jones will be fighting Rashad Evans next; maybe Evans has more to bring to the fight, and can exploit untapped weaknesses of Jonny Bones.
Jones doesn’t have many weaknesses standing, and he’s an extremely effective clinch fighter. No fighter has been able to put a dent in his armour standing, mostly because of his very large frame and reach.
Jones’ size is a strength, but in certain situations could be a weakness. Rampage showed that leg kicks can be an effective attack against the champion. Due to the small size of his limbs, it could be easier to wear him down.
Wrestling could also be a place to try to beat Jones. It could be easier to take him down with leverage because he has a higher center of gravity.
We haven’t really seen Jon Jones on his back. His guard is very likely a weakness due to the fact that he rarely uses it. It would be interesting to see if he’s comfortable in that position.
Rashad Evans has a skill set that could prove effective against Jon Jones.
Rashad has good leg kicks, powerful hands, and is probably the best wrestler in the light heavyweight division. He’s a smart guy too, and will have a better game plan than Rampage did.
Evans will come out and try to pepper Jones with leg kicks and quick, short punches. He’ll undoubtedly go for a takedown at some point, and he has a good chance of landing it due to his wrestling skill.
Another interesting dynamic of the fight will be Rashad’s knockout power. He has more power than Jones, and can end the fight with one punch or kick.
Rashad Evans is Jon Jones’ biggest challenge in the light heavyweight division; it will be interesting to see if he can expose a weakness in the young champion.
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