Jon Jones seems to be on a roll. Like an unstoppable force of nature, he just doesn’t seem to be able to slow down on his rise to the top of the UFC. It’s hard envisioning someone giving him a tougher fight than Machida did.But how has Jone…
Jon Jones seems to be on a roll. Like an unstoppable force of nature, he just doesn’t seem to be able to slow down on his rise to the top of the UFC. It’s hard envisioning someone giving him a tougher fight than Machida did.
But how has Jones done in his last four fights as he has risen to the top of the heap and become champion?
It’s worth a look to see if Jones has been as destructive each time out. Since most fans see him as such a natural disaster rather than a human being, instead of power ranking his fights by the standard 1-to-10 scale we’ll use the Richter Scale.
The Richter Scale is used to measure earthquakes and goes from 2.0, which is micro, all the way to 10.0-plus, which is extremely rare and may not even be possible.
Now that the ranking system has been explained, let’s take a look at the last four UFC fights that Jones has taken place in, all the way from a fight with Bader to his impromptu title fight to Saturday’s main event.
After Jon Jones choked out Lyoto Machida at UFC 140, Jones’s coach Greg Jackson stepped into the Octagon and urged Jones to check on Machida and see if he was OK. Jackson’s comment was picked up by microphones and broadcast to fans watching on UFC.tv, and Jackson’s phrasing was interpreted by some fans as an attempt to stage manage Jones and perhaps show a false concern for his fallen opponent.
But on Monday, Jackson said the whole thing was misunderstood.
After the fight, as Machida was on the ground getting medical attention, Jackson shouted to Jones, “Jon! Jon! Go check on him! Go check on Lyoto, get some fans!”
To MMA fans who think Jones comes across as a phony, that “get some fans” line was seen in a negative light, as though Jones and Jackson weren’t really concerned about Machida, but Jackson thought it would be good PR for Jones to pretend to be concerned. But Jackson appeared on The MMA Hour on Monday and said he was kicking himself for the way he phrased his comment to Jones, because he hated the way it was interpreted.
“Fighters get into this place when they’re fighting — Jon choked him out but he was in this zone,” Jackson said. “So I said to Jon, ‘Go check on Machida and get yourself some fans,’ which was a dumb thing to say. What I was trying to convey to him was, You’re a professional athlete and there’s ring decorum, and I should have said ‘Remember the fans’ because everyone is watching what you do. I misspoke.”
Jackson said he wasn’t trying to suggest that Jones should only be concerned about Machida because that might make fans like him. He said he was pointing out that Jones is a role model and that fans would want to see how Jones reacted to choking Machida out.
“‘Go check on him and the fans will appreciate it’ was what I meant, but I’m a bonehead sometimes and it came out wrong, which wasn’t my intention at all,” Jackson said.
Jackson said he’s disappointed that some fans are picking up his comment to Jones and beginning to believe that Jones’s nice-guy image is an act that Jackson is trying to craft.
“I don’t feel it’s fair because it wasn’t my intention,” Jackson said. “I wasn’t trying to manipulate Jon.”
As for the fight itself, Jackson said he thought Machida’s style, as a southpaw with an unusual counter-striking approach, gave Jones some trouble in the early going. But he said he was proud of the way Jones responded.
“Jon took some hard shots and really showed his jaw,” Jackson said. “Machida’s a true warrior, and what a smart guy. I was very impressed.”
After Jon Jones choked out Lyoto Machida at UFC 140, Jones’s coach Greg Jackson stepped into the Octagon and urged Jones to check on Machida and see if he was OK. Jackson’s comment was picked up by microphones and broadcast to fans watching on UFC.tv, and Jackson’s phrasing was interpreted by some fans as an attempt to stage manage Jones and perhaps show a false concern for his fallen opponent.
But on Monday, Jackson said the whole thing was misunderstood.
After the fight, as Machida was on the ground getting medical attention, Jackson shouted to Jones, “Jon! Jon! Go check on him! Go check on Lyoto, get some fans!”
To MMA fans who think Jones comes across as a phony, that “get some fans” line was seen in a negative light, as though Jones and Jackson weren’t really concerned about Machida, but Jackson thought it would be good PR for Jones to pretend to be concerned. But Jackson appeared on The MMA Hour on Monday and said he was kicking himself for the way he phrased his comment to Jones, because he hated the way it was interpreted.
“Fighters get into this place when they’re fighting — Jon choked him out but he was in this zone,” Jackson said. “So I said to Jon, ‘Go check on Machida and get yourself some fans,’ which was a dumb thing to say. What I was trying to convey to him was, You’re a professional athlete and there’s ring decorum, and I should have said ‘Remember the fans’ because everyone is watching what you do. I misspoke.”
Jackson said he wasn’t trying to suggest that Jones should only be concerned about Machida because that might make fans like him. He said he was pointing out that Jones is a role model and that fans would want to see how Jones reacted to choking Machida out.
“‘Go check on him and the fans will appreciate it’ was what I meant, but I’m a bonehead sometimes and it came out wrong, which wasn’t my intention at all,” Jackson said.
Jackson said he’s disappointed that some fans are picking up his comment to Jones and beginning to believe that Jones’s nice-guy image is an act that Jackson is trying to craft.
“I don’t feel it’s fair because it wasn’t my intention,” Jackson said. “I wasn’t trying to manipulate Jon.”
As for the fight itself, Jackson said he thought Machida’s style, as a southpaw with an unusual counter-striking approach, gave Jones some trouble in the early going. But he said he was proud of the way Jones responded.
“Jon took some hard shots and really showed his jaw,” Jackson said. “Machida’s a true warrior, and what a smart guy. I was very impressed.”
UFC 140 was a phenomenal exposition of mad skills in the Octagon. Only one fight on the Main Card (Claude Patrick vs. Brian Ebersole) and 3 fights total of the entire card ended in decision. Jon Jones more than proved he is a sick champion miles ahead of the terrific talent pool that is the UFC Light Heavyweight division. I watched the fights with producers from The Ultimate Fighter series. We’ve been following the sport since the series began and consider ourselves pretty hardcore fans, yet after the main event, we all questioned who the hell is really a contender for Jones, completely forgetting about those UFC on Fox 2 headliners, Rashad Evans and Phil Davis, but that’s just how incredible Jones is… You cannot compare his talent to anyone in his division.
Yes, the card was fantastic and worth giving up yet another Saturday night, not that I had a date, but I digress. This event, though magnificent for several reasons, including the return of Brittney Palmer ringside, left me with a few lingering questions.
1) Do Brazilians not tap?
That was some great sh*t watching Frank Mir go from nearly knocked out to BREAKING THE ARM of Antonio “Big Nog” Nogueira (see below).
And it was equally impressive when Jon Jones finally let go of Lyoto Machida who limply fell to the ground like a dead body. I seriously thought he was dead for a few seconds.
But was it really a good for Big Nog to incur an injury that might lead to his retirement? It will definitely lay him up for many months. And didn’t Machida notice he was on the verge of losing consciousness in that guillotine choke? It’s perhaps possible since both former champions had never been submitted before Saturday night’s UFC 140, they may not have known when it is time to tap. But, there has to be a sort of pride that prevented each man to surrender and for that there is a respect these guys have earned that cannot be touched even in a time they may feel personal humiliation.
2) Was it necessary for Jon Jones to crouching-tiger-crawl toward Lyoto Machida in the opening of the first round?
It seemed pretentious and it annoyed me. Right here is what I’m talking about. But then he did what he did to Machida and I thought, “Wow, he can belly crawl, do the Rerun Shuffle, or the Thriller dance after touching gloves; he’s the f*cking Michael Jordan of MMA! Damn it.” It’s like Ben Fowlkes from MMAFighting said, “You know you’re good when it’s news that an opponent actually managed to hit you a few times.” Regardless of those huge hits he took, Jones proved he is ions ahead of his division. It’s been a long time since Rashad’s experienced training with him. This guy has new tricks every fight.
3) Did Mark Hominick sucker punch The Korean Zombie?
After replaying the pay-per-view a few times, it’s not far-fetched to conclude Mark Hominick tried to sucker punch Chan Sung Jung and paid for it super quickly. But knowing Hominick and his clean reputation it’s highly unlikely that was the case. This was Hominick’s first fight since losing the head coach who nurtured his entire career, Shawn Tompkins. Hominick had elevated emotions coming into this fight, maybe even feeling pressure to honor “The Coach.” He told Ariel Helwani “”I got a little too hyped up. I came out with a wild left hook. I just really wanted to get it done tonight.” I think that’s pretty accurate and a fair assessment. Hominick is not guilty.
4) Did Brittney Palmer‘s return get upstaged by all these spectacular fights?
No. Look at her. All that beauty held its own in that ugly business that occurred Saturday night. And it’s a good thing we had that eye candy relief. I never want to see that arm break or Machida’s body falling limp again. We are thankful we had this to look at:
5) Will Roy Nelson ever get a title-shot?
I dont’ want to say never, but Roy Nelson asked for his shot after retiring Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic at UFC 137. He said he was getting too old and wanted his turn. But it seems that Frank Mir’s Submission of the Night win, which brings him to a tally of 2 arm-breaking victories in his fight career, that Nelson will be shut out of contention for longer than he can try to hold onto being near contention. But I never say never. He unexpectedly, heeded big career advice and lost necessary weight for his last fight, which made him look pretty darn good out there, especially after he shaved. And the best thing I’ve learned having given up repeated Saturday nights to watch these fight cards is that anything can happen. UFC is a promotion that offers no season off, but is proving worth our year round time, I think…unless some great guy asks me out. I need a life, people.
After what many called the event of the year, UFC 140 featured some of the best fighters in the sport today, including UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, former heavyweight champions Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, as well as former cham…
After what many called the event of the year, UFC 140 featured some of the best fighters in the sport today, including UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, former heavyweight champions Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, as well as former champion Tito Ortiz.
Not all emerged victorious, but the ones that did came through and got impressive stoppages over their opponents.
As the winners move on and forward in the division and up the pound-for-pound rankings, the losers will have to work their way back up the ladder, and for some, retire.
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.
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”.
After 
During the