UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones successfully defend his title for the second time on Saturday, and the victory came over a former champion in Lyoto Machida, who many considered his toughest and trickiest test to date.After a rocky first round …
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones successfully defend his title for the second time on Saturday, and the victory came over a former champion in Lyoto Machida, who many considered his toughest and trickiest test to date.
After a rocky first round for Jones, many thought Machida would be on his way to figuring out the unsolved puzzle. That was until “The Dragon” was cut open and put to sleep with a standing guillotine in the second round. Jones casually walked away, leaving an unconscious opponent fall to the canvas.
Despite being almost perfect in his MMA career, Jones hasn’t been accepted by the majority of the fans.
It seems as if he is unsure of what fans expect from him, and that maybe he is trying to act like someone that he thinks they want him to be instead of being himself. It’s all part of constructing an image that most fans can accept, and it’s going to be hard to do considering the dominance and ease at which he is walking through fan-favorite fighters.
In this video, Jones’ trainer, Greg Jackson, is heard telling Jones to go check on his opponent and to “get some fans.” It might not be well-received, but it shows at how the people involved with Jones are trying to help build his image.
Both Jones and Jackson have been together for most of the 24-year-old’s career and through his biggest fights, including those with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Quinton Jackson and Ryan Bader.
The champ takes plenty of heat for the way he carries himself. Whether you think he’s overly cocky or rightfully confident, you may not have appreciated the way that he dropped Machida to the ground like a sack of rocks. “Bones” has yet to taste defeat in mixed martial arts, which may be why he doesn’t seem to empathize with his fallen foes very well.
While the PPV microphones were cued in to Goldy and Rogan, the online stream gave access to a number of audio and video feeds. As it turns out, in addition to coaching Jones on takedowns and chokes, Greg Jackson is there to remind Jones on proper in-cage etiquette.
Does it make him any less of an incredible fighter? No. Does it make you dislike him a little more? Probably.
The champ takes plenty of heat for the way he carries himself. Whether you think he’s overly cocky or rightfully confident, you may not have appreciated the way that he dropped Machida to the ground like a sack of rocks. “Bones” has yet to taste defeat in mixed martial arts, which may be why he doesn’t seem to empathize with his fallen foes very well.
While the PPV microphones were cued in to Goldy and Rogan, the online stream gave access to a number of audio and video feeds. As it turns out, in addition to coaching Jones on takedowns and chokes, Greg Jackson is there to remind Jones on proper in-cage etiquette.
Does it make him any less of an incredible fighter? No. Does it make you dislike him a little more? Probably.
Do you now believe?Between the massive tweets and eccentric fans who tuned into UFC 140, the MMA community witnessed Jon Jones’ deciding victory over the aggressive Lyoto Machida Saturday night.Whether it was the nasty gash on Machida’s forehead, compl…
Do you now believe?
Between the massive tweets and eccentric fans who tuned into UFC 140, the MMA community witnessed Jon Jones’ deciding victory over the aggressive Lyoto Machida Saturday night.
Whether it was the nasty gash on Machida’s forehead, compliments of a Jones elbow, or the out-of-this-world standing guillotine that ended the fight in the second round, Jones’ decisive win over a top contender was everything justifiable.
Heading into UFC 140, many people, whether they wanted to or not, disregarded Jones as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, considering he had only defended his UFC light heavyweight championship once.
But following this victory, one that came after a first-round barrage of Machida strikes, what’s left to say about Jones?
Honestly, not much. I mean, what can you say?
He is, right now, the best fighter in the world. Whether you disagree in respect for middleweight champion Anderson Silva, or if you just don’t want to crown a 24-year-old the “great one,” Jones’ dominance reigns true in any fashion.
The guy has only been training MMA for four years, and he has already captured glory at the grandest scale. To think that his victory over Machida Saturday night wasn’t part of some glorious UFC destination seems unrewarding and unfair to a guy who has done everything—in and out of the Octagon—to perfection.
At this point in his career, with his striking ability, quick reactions to limit damage and his unorthodox submissions, Jones has simply transformed into a younger Silva.
Not only because he resembles Silva through length, speed and demeanor, but because his attitude and success in the cage proves too valuable to pass up.
Think about it this way. Can you imagine what the UFC would witness is Silva was currently 24 years old?
It’d be madness.
One fighter who has the power to take over the sport. One athlete who can transcend his predecessors at every level. One man who can shift the sport into mainstream America and rule mixed martial arts for the next decade.
Well, look no further. Imagination or not, Jon Jones is currently that guy.
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, from pre-fight predictions toin-fight coverage, resultsand post-fight analysis.
There’s nothing new in Jon Jones facing his ‘toughest test to date’; his recent fights have put him through a gauntlet of UFC champions. Searching for a style that stifles him is old hat as well; in his very short career he’s faced top level wrestlers, strikers, and even a one-of-a-kind karate specialist. And doubting the light-heavyweight champ? That officially became passé last night too.
While all of the smart money was being plunked down on Jon Jones, most acknowledged that Machida’s unique style would pose an interesting challenge to the young champion. Finding Machida with the end of your fist is a tough enough chore when you’re not spinning and twisting through the air, and Jones found that out in the first round. His flashy kicks and punches came close to finishing the Dragon’s shadow, but the intended target was long out of range by the time the twirling had ended. A pair of solid body kicks and a few stalking combinations gave Lyoto the round and momentum headed into the second frame against a suddenly more-human Jones.
“Bones” found himself on the losing end of the exchanges early in round two as well. Machida, who has made a career of the unorthodox, seemed able to predict what Jones would throw before he’d even thought of it. And that’s when it finally happened: Jones got hit. It wasn’t a jaw-dropping widow-maker, mind you, but finally we had contact, significant contact. Though Jones staggered backward at bit, he quickly regained his composure and did what champions do—he took over. A takedown followed by a brutal elbow to the forehead drew blood. Lots of it. Momentum had shifted, and Jones was certain the fight was his.
There’s nothing new in Jon Jones facing his ‘toughest test to date’; his recent fights have put him through a gauntlet of UFC champions. Searching for a style that stifles him is old hat as well; in his very short career he’s faced top level wrestlers, strikers, and even a one-of-a-kind karate specialist. And doubting the light-heavyweight champ? That officially became passé last night too.
While all of the smart money was being plunked down on Jon Jones, most acknowledged that Machida’s unique style would pose an interesting challenge to the young champion. Finding Machida with the end of your fist is a tough enough chore when you’re not spinning and twisting through the air, and Jones found that out in the first round. His flashy kicks and punches came close to finishing the Dragon’s shadow, but the intended target was long out of range by the time the twirling had ended. A pair of solid body kicks and a few stalking combinations gave Lyoto the round and momentum headed into the second frame against a suddenly more-human Jones.
“Bones” found himself on the losing end of the exchanges early in round two as well. Machida, who has made a career of the unorthodox, seemed able to predict what Jones would throw before he’d even thought of it. And that’s when it finally happened: Jones got hit. It wasn’t a jaw-dropping widow-maker, mind you, but finally we had contact, significant contact. Though Jones staggered backward at bit, he quickly regained his composure and did what champions do—he took over. A takedown followed by a brutal elbow to the forehead drew blood. Lots of it. Momentum had shifted, and Jones was certain the fight was his.
“When I opened him up with the cut, my confidence level went to a whole other level,” Jones told Ariel Helwani post-fight. “I was like, ‘Oh yeah, you’re bleeding! And now let’s play this game.”
Back on their feet after the cut was cleared by ringside physicians, Jones pressed Machida to the cage and sunk in a standing guillotine. As he repositioned his grip to maximize the torque on his go-go-gadget arms, the lights began to fade for ‘The Dragon’ and his body went limp. Referee “Big John” McCarthy stepped in and Jones released his hold, the only thing propping Machida up on his feet. As Lyoto and his bid for a second UFC title came crashing to the canvas, Jones coolly walked away with yet another incredible stoppage victory. Machida was game and his performance helped the pair secure the $75K Fight of the Night bonus, but the end leaves no doubt that Jones is simply on another level.
In any other circumstance, Jones’s 2011 run would be considered career defining. But how could it not be for a twenty-four year old with only three year’s experience under his shiny, gold belt? Jones didn’t just defeat Bader, Shogun, Rampage, and Machida; he stopped them, painfully, without getting hurt. Anything can happen in MMA where the tides turn quickly—the “Machida Era” was better timed with a stopwatch than a calendar–but everything I’ve seen indicates that Jones’s reign over the light-heavyweight division has only begun. There will always be a new challenger posing a new challenge, but they’ll be facing a new, more evolved champion each time he steps foot in the cage.
UFC 140 is in the books and the Jon Jones freight train continues to gather speed as he took care of that Lyoto Machida business in emphatic submission fashion. Jones went into UFC 140 aware that the equally unorthodox Machida posed the biggest threat …
UFC 140 is in the books and the Jon Jones freight train continues to gather speed as he took care of that Lyoto Machida business in emphatic submission fashion.
Jones went into UFC 140 aware that the equally unorthodox Machida posed the biggest threat yet to his reign as the 205-lb king.
And as it transpired, it wasn’t all plain sailing for the champ, as he was rocked by “The Dragon” in the opening round.
Nonetheless, he came back stronger in the second and busted up Machida before executing a standing guillotine choke, which rendered the karate exponent unconscious.
Jones has now added The Dragon to his list of casualties for the year 2011.
Here’s a quick look at the others…
At UFC 126, Jones defeated the once-thought-of future of the light heavyweight division in the guise of Ryan “Darth” Bader, via guillotine choke.
In Mauricio “Shogun” Rua was a former Pride legend, a devastating striker with even more devastating Muay Thai at his disposal.
What did the young phenom do? Jones destroyed Shogun en route to capturing the UFC light heavyweight championship.
Then along came Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, a former Pride middleweight and former UFC light heavyweight champion with knockout power in both hands, and a fighter who on any given day could send an opponent to sleep, power bombs included.
Still, the confident Bones Jones went on to hand Rampage his first ever stoppage defeat (via rear naked choke) in 10 fights for the Zuffa-based company.
This year has been an overly exemplary year for Jones—four fights, four wins, three submissions, one knockout and two title defenses.
And in the process, he has now defeated the division’s present and former triumvirates.
It doesn’t get any better than that.
His next opponents are likely to be the winner of the Rashad “Suga Shad” Evans vs. Phil “Mr. Wonderful” Davis match taking place at UFC on Fox 2, or former Strikeforce light heavyweight titlist Dan “H-Bomb” Henderson.
All three have some serious wrestling pedigree, whilst Henderson and Rashad are by far the more superior strikers.
Do they pose a threat? Every fighter competing in the UFC is a threat.
Still, should Jones be concerned? Not in the least, because whichever combatant shows up on fight night, the result will be same—a Jones victory.
Like Anderson “The Spider” Silva, the Greg Jackson-trained fighter has now become something of an abstruse enigma.
Needless to say, he surpasses the latter in that he has almost everything in his arsenal that should be the official prototype for all MMA fighters who want to compete at the highest level, as well as succeed in this ever-evolving sport.
For one, Jones has that 84-inch reach which has proved a nightmare for his adversaries, and it will continue to pose problems as long as Jones can utilize it to the best of his abilities.
He’s unpredictable—delivering strikes with accurate and devastating precision, and also from unfathomable angles.
There’s the wrestling background—free styling, Greco-Roman pedigree—that Jones also bring to the table.
Add his Muay Thai to the equation and his ever-improving stand up and jiu-jitsu, and what you have is the Ultimate Fighting (machine) Champion.
And if that isn’t enough to whet the appetite of the MMA purist, then consider the fact that he’s still only 24 years old, which means he can only get better.
Apropos Jones’ chin—Machida tested it, so we can safely say he can take a hit and remain standing.
Hype trains have been derailed in the past, with the Machida era being a perfect example.
Be that as it may, against The Dragon at UFC 140, Jones proved once and for all that he’s more than just hype—he proved to the MMA world that he’s in true essence the Real Deal.
For the light heavyweight and even the heavyweight assemblage, it’s now a prerequisite to be on high alert—there’s most definitely a new sheriff in town, and he goes by the appellation of Jon Bones Jones.
It wasn’t without a struggle, but Jon Jones choked out Lyoto Machida in spectacular fashion to end what was a captivating and fantastic fight.Early on, Jones seemed confused by Machida’s elusive style. Neither fighter seemed able to hit the other very …
It wasn’t without a struggle, but Jon Jones choked out Lyoto Machida in spectacular fashion to end what was a captivating and fantastic fight.
Early on, Jones seemed confused by Machida’s elusive style. Neither fighter seemed able to hit the other very often, but Machida was able to move in and out of Jones’ range with far greater success than any fighter has in recent memory.
Jones couldn’t hit Machida, and Machida landed a hard right that momentarily wobbled the champ.
Still, Jones quickly recovered, and in the second round, Jones’ grappling and submission prowess proved the only difference that mattered.
Jones got a takedown against the cage and opened up a big gash on Machida’s forehead that caused the referee to momentarily pause the fight to check with the doctor. Machida would later say after the fight that he thought the cut inhibited his vision, and was the beginning of the end.
When the fight restarted, Jones rocked Machida with a punch and quickly capitalized by choking Machida unconscious with a modified guillotine against the fence in a way that only a 6’3″ man with an 84.5 inch reach can do.
The fight was called off, and Jones released Machida, who fell lifelessly to the mat.
Jon Jones might be the greatest finisher in the sport.
What killer instinct, and what an end to an amazing year.
When people look back at the history of MMA, 2011 will be remembered as the Jon Jones’ year.
More than that, Jon Jones’ 2011 domination has been the greatest single-year campaign in the short history of mixed martial arts.
Nostalgic Pride fans might still point to Mauricio Rua’s 2005.
They’re dead wrong.
Quinton Jackson, Mauricio Rua, and Lyoto Machida aren’t just top 10 light heavyweights. They’re three of the top light heavyweights in the short history of the sport, and Jones beat them all decisively. Even without Bader, this list is probably better than any year we’ve seen so far in terms of quality opposition.
Looking to the future, it’s hard to imagine Jon Jones having much trouble with anybody in the current landscape.
Rashad Evans is simply too small.
Dan Henderson would get taken down and is pretty much helpless on his back.
It’s unlikely that Dana White puts Anderson Silva against Jones, but if he did, it wouldn’t be pretty for “The Spider.” Sure, Silva is a better striker than Jones, but Jones’ grappling would be far too much for Silva to handle.
Believe it or not, should Jones win his next two fights, his resume of achievements against elite competition will already be the greatest in the relatively short history of the light-heavyweight division.
Don’t be surprised when people start putting Jon Jones ahead of Anderson Silva and Georges St-Pierre on pound-for-pound lists either.
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones successfully defend his title for the second time on Saturday, and the victory came over a former champion in Lyoto Machida, who many considered his toughest and trickiest test to date.
