Tag: Jon Jones

UFC 140 Results: Can Jon Jones Become the Biggest Draw in MMA?

With UFC 140 now in the books and Jon Jones defending his UFC belt for the second time, it’s been established that Jones is for real. Jones answered his biggest question, “How does he react after getting hit?” and showed that he can come back from some…

With UFC 140 now in the books and Jon Jones defending his UFC belt for the second time, it’s been established that Jones is for real. Jones answered his biggest question, “How does he react after getting hit?” and showed that he can come back from some adversity.

The only question that remains now is not if he is for real in the cage. He has adequately proven himself to any of his detractors. It now becomes a question of whether he can become MMA‘s biggest draw.

The UFC certainly needs him to be. The promotion has grown to the point where it doesn’t need a huge name to sell out arenas, but the bigger draws are starting to get older (Silva), are injured (GSP) or are dangerously close to being irrelevant or retired (Lesnar).

The odd thing about his meteoric rise through the ranks has been his decline in popularity. Whether the gripes about his personality are true, the consensus has become that Jones is a fake.

While it’s hard for us, the fans, to truly judge whether someone is genuine, the perception has certainly become the reality and his reputation has taken a hit.

Perhaps in more than any sport, personality matters in MMA.

There’s no helmet to wear, no team to hide behind, you are your own brand.

While Jones’ confidence and personality may hinder his reputation now, there will be a point when it simply doesn’t matter. If sports has taught us one thing, winning conquers all flaws.

 

Example No. 1—Michael Jordan

 

Perhaps the most marketable athlete in sports history was Michael Jordan. There are many accounts of Jordan’s vindictive and bristly personality.

If Jordan had been an MMA fighter, chances are he wouldn’t have been a fan favorite. He would have been cocky, smug and probably wouldn’t have been the best guy to train with. He was merciless with his teammates in the NBA, always in the pursuit of perfection.

So why was Jordan so marketable?

He won.

It didn’t matter that in reality he was a tough person to play with and not the most likeable person; it mattered that he was the best winner since Magic and Bird.

When Jordan was playing on TV or if he was coming to your local arena, you were going to be watching. Not because he was a likeable guy, but because you were about to witness greatness.

Jones is reaching that level. Love him or hate him, you have to watch because you are witnessing greatness.

 

Example No. 2—Tim Tebow

Perhaps a more recent comparison to Jones would be Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow. This comparison has been made before but it holds a lot of validity when wondering if Jones can become MMA’s biggest draw.

Tebow has also fallen under criticism because of his personality. The difference between Tebow and Jones is talent. Tebow is unconventional and doesn’t have the traditional skill set of typical NFL quarterbacks, and we don’t know if he will have staying power in the league despite a 7-1 record as a starter this year.

What we do know for sure is about Tebow is he is currently the NFL’s biggest draw.

If ESPN were to have a Broncos game on “Monday Night Football,” it would undoubtedly be the highest rated of the year.

Tebow has his fair share of detractors, from his personality to his unconventional skill set, and many people are just waiting to see Tebow fail.

Either way they are tuning in.

Jones is in a very similar situation. While his talent is far more proven than Tebow’s. He still remains disliked by a large portion of fans.

Eventually Jones’ winning ways will force people to tune in.

What Tebow has taught us is that winning is paramount when it comes to sparking up the debate and being the big draw.

 

Example No. 3—Anderson Silva

The only man to be more polarizing than Jon Jones, is the pound-for-pound king of MMA himself, Anderson Silva. “The Spider” is a fighter that is either loved or hated.

Those that love him, love the way he fights in the octagon and appreciates his impressive undefeated run in the UFC.

Those that dislike him point to his lack of respect for some opponents and his cockiness. Silva is another fighter with a polarizing personality.

He’s also one of the biggest draws in the UFC.

Silva fighting anyone is huge news, and Chael Sonnen has become one of the most popular fighters in the UFC simply because he almost beat Silva. Simply put, Silva sells.

It won’t be long until Jones reaches Silva status. Regardless of how many people don’t like his personality they’ll have to tune in because they will be witnessing greatness.

So, can Jon Jones become MMA’s biggest draw?

Absolutely.

 

Be sure to stay tuned to Bleacher Report for all things UFC 140. B/R is your home for complete coverage of the Dec. 10 fight card, including results and post-fight analysis.

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UFC 140 Results: Jon Jones vs. Anderson Silva Head to Toe Breakdown

It is the fight that everyone keeps talking about and the question that Dana White gets at every post-fight press conference that has either Jon Jones or Anderson Silva on it.Jon Jones vs. Anderson Silva isn’t on White’s radar anytime soon, but it’s a …

It is the fight that everyone keeps talking about and the question that Dana White gets at every post-fight press conference that has either Jon Jones or Anderson Silva on it.

Jon Jones vs. Anderson Silva isn’t on White’s radar anytime soon, but it’s a fight that intrigues the minds of everyone who follows MMA.

Jones has been on a tear since coming to the UFC and quickly climbed the ranks to become the light-heavyweight champion.

Silva has shown similar dominance in the middleweight division, becoming champion in October 2006 and hasn’t let go.

Who would win in a fight between two of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world?

Here’s a breakdown of the two fighters.

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UFC 140 Results: Why Jon Jones Is the Greatest Light Heavyweight of All Time

At just 24 years of age, Jon “Bones” Jones stepped inside the Octagon at UFC 140 to take on the highly talented and dangerous karate artist, Lyoto Machida.Jones proved his age to be a nonfactor in regards of experience, as he erased an early advantage …

At just 24 years of age, Jon “Bones” Jones stepped inside the Octagon at UFC 140 to take on the highly talented and dangerous karate artist, Lyoto Machida.

Jones proved his age to be a nonfactor in regards of experience, as he erased an early advantage for Machida by bouncing back in the second frame.

After a Bones takedown, Machida endured vicious elbows, one which would put a cut in the center of his forehead.

The fight was stopped via doctor checkup but action resumed not too long after.

Jones continued to dominate as he had Machida pinned up against the cage where it appeared he may finish in the clinch.

But, unexpectedly, Jones placed his opponent in a standing guillotine choke, which would lead him to his second straight light heavyweight title defense.

Up until this point in his career, Jones has yet to lose a bout, minus a disqualification loss to Matt Hamill at the Ultimate Fighter Heavyweight Finale.

And while Jones has already become the youngest champion is UFC history, he’s now established something far more greater

Jones has become the greatest light heavyweight of all time.

To date, Jones has defeated the likes of Stephan Bonnar, Ryan Bader, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Quinton Rampage Jackson and Lyoto Machida.

While there are more opponents that have yet to meet Jones, it’s clear that Bones’ fighting style is clearly too much to handle.

On top of his variety and well-rounded skills, Jones has displayed an overwhelming 84-inch-plus reach advantage, allowing him to remain back from his opponent in the standup.

Jon Jones is already the greatest light heavyweight of all time.

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Why Only a Legend Can Stop Jon Jones

Invincible is a term rarely used in the UFC. Only a handful of fighters in the world are even considered to posses invincibility but even fewer men are able to prove themselves worthy of the title.Light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones moved one step clo…

Invincible is a term rarely used in the UFC. Only a handful of fighters in the world are even considered to posses invincibility but even fewer men are able to prove themselves worthy of the title.

Light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones moved one step closer to invincibility on Saturday in his second title defense against former champion Lyoto Machida. After just two rounds Jones managed to put Machida to sleep with a nasty standing guillotine choke thus improving his record to 9-1 in the UFC. In his last six fights, Jones has run through top flight opponents including three former champions in Shogun Rua, Rampage Jackson and Lyoto Machida.

Jones’ next opponent will likely come out of a Jan. 28 matchup between Rashad Evans and Phil Davis that is scheduled for UFC on FOX 2. Both men are talented wrestlers and would pose a realistic threat to Jones’ throne, but there is only one true challenger capable of ending Jones’ reign with skills almost identical to the champion.

Long before Jones was even competing in the sport, middleweight king Anderson Silva was already creating his legacy in the UFC. The pound-for-pound best fighter in the world has long been considered invincible in his five-year reign over the middleweight division. In 2009 Silva showcased his dominance with a stunning first-round knockout of Forrest Griffin in his first appearance at light-heavyweight. Since then Silva has not attempted to fight again at light-heavyweight, but a showdown with Jones would certainly be considered a mega-fight for the UFC.

Silva and Jones are almost mirror images of each other. Both men are flashy strikers with long arms and legs. Silva’s Muay Thai is second to none and some of the moves he’s pulled off in the cage look like they came from a scene in The Matrix or a Kung Fu film. Jones’ striking style is similar in the sense that he uses his long reach and wild striking to surprise opponents while still maintaining a safe distance. Jones also possesses outstanding wrestling ability. If I had to guess who would win this fight right now I wouldn’t be able to give a confident answer. I do know however that Silva would present the biggest challenge to Jones, and fans would be able to witness one of the greatest fights in UFC history. Until Dana White and the UFC make this fight happen I can’t see Jones losing to anyone in the near future.

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UFC 140 Results: Machida "The Cut Was the Beginning of the End"

During the UFC 140 post-fight press conference, the fighters available answered questions on a variety of different topics and events. The fighters on hand were Chan Sung Jung, Frank Mir, Jon Jones, Lyoto Machida, Rogerio Nogueira and Brian Ebersole. M…

During the UFC 140 post-fight press conference, the fighters available answered questions on a variety of different topics and events. The fighters on hand were Chan Sung Jung, Frank Mir, Jon Jones, Lyoto Machida, Rogerio Nogueira and Brian Ebersole.

Machida gave his breakdown of the fight, and it seemed spot-on as he felt the fight was even until Jones cut him with the elbow. Machida admitted the cut threw him off, and the next thing he knew it was nighty night.

Machida also talks about his future, saying he will simply wait for a call from the UFC to hear what’s next and that he will come back from this setback.

I was able to ask The Korean Zombie Chan Sung Jung if this was the biggest knockout of his career, and his translated answer was, “Yes it was, I was supposed to lose this fight so I feel bad for the Canadian fans.”

Jung stunned the Canadian crowd by countering a sloppy left hook from local hero Mark Hominick with a straight right to the button. He knocked out Hominick in 0:07 seconds, tying a UFC record for the quickest knockout.

Jon Jones finally told the media where he went for his pre-fight meditation ritual—Balls Falls in the Niagara Peninsula. The conservation area has beautiful waterfalls, and Jones found one to do the job. He admitted it was too cold for him to stay his usual length of time.

Brian Ebersole talks about his slightly controversial decision win against Claude Patrick. I think the fight could have been called either way, but he is right when he says that he ended up on top of most of the exchanges with Patrick, and I don’t think the decision was that unjust.

Be sure to stay tuned to Bleacher Report for all things UFC 140. B/R is your home for complete coverage of the December 10 fight card, including results and post-fight analysis.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 140 Results: 5 Fighters Lyoto Machida Should Take on Next

Last night UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones made history in defeating Lyoto Machida, joining the ranks of Rampage Jackson and Shogun Rua as one of the few Dragon Slayers.With the way “The Dragon” controlled the fight in the first round, Machida…

Last night UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones made history in defeating Lyoto Machida, joining the ranks of Rampage Jackson and Shogun Rua as one of the few Dragon Slayers.

With the way “The Dragon” controlled the fight in the first round, Machida showed that he does have what it takes to dethrone the champ. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to keep it up and, for the first time in his career, lost via submission.

At 33 years old, Machida’s career is far from over as he still has enough time and steam to make another run at the title. The road back to redemption will be long and difficult, but everyone loves a comeback.

So, here are the top five fights Machida can take, and if he wins enough of them to earn another title shot we may stop calling him “The Karate Kid” and instead refer to him as “The Comeback Kid”. 

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