Tag: Mauricio “Shogun” Rua

Falling Action: Best and Worst of UFC 128

Filed under: UFCIt would be overdramatic and not completely accurate to claim that a star was born in the main event of UFC 128. Jon Jones was already a star, which is why the UFC did a pre-fight special on him after giving the champion, Mauricio ‘Shog…

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It would be overdramatic and not completely accurate to claim that a star was born in the main event of UFC 128. Jon Jones was already a star, which is why the UFC did a pre-fight special on him after giving the champion, Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua, no such fully-focused push.

But while Jones showed up at the Prudential Center in Newark already a celebrity, it was his domination of Rua that made him an instant colossus in this sport. With that will come a lot of fame, money, and attention — all things that can derail any 23-year-old if he’s not ready for them. Whether this will be one more rule that simply doesn’t apply to Jones as it does to mere mortals, time will tell. For now, he gets to relax and enjoy being champ. He just shouldn’t enjoy it too much, since this title has had a way of slipping through the fingers of his predecessors.

Now on the biggest winners, losers, and everything in between after UFC 128.

Jon Jones Crushes Shogun Rua, Becomes Youngest UFC Champ Ever

Filed under: UFC, NewsNEWARK, N.J. — If conventional wisdom is right, and Jon Jones becomes MMA’s transcendent figure, the one who brings the sport on a ride to the next level, 20 years from now, you’ll be telling your kids about the epic story of the…

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Jon Jones defeats Shogun Rua at UFC 128.NEWARK, N.J. — If conventional wisdom is right, and Jon Jones becomes MMA’s transcendent figure, the one who brings the sport on a ride to the next level, 20 years from now, you’ll be telling your kids about the epic story of the day Jones won the belt.

It’s a hard-to-believe tale that might one day be part of a movie that people assume is fiction. But it began with Jones foiling a robbery and ended late in the evening of the night the earth saw its first supermoon in 18 years, with Jones vanquishing the battle-hardened champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in a third-round TKO so dominant, it bordered on ridiculous.

Jones controlled the action from the opening touch of gloves until referee Herb Dean pulled him off a downed Rua two minutes, 37 seconds into the third. According to Compustrike, Jones out-landed Rua 87-13, took him down twice, and landed 57 ground strikes to Rua’s zero.

Jon Jones Takes Unexpected Turn as Crimefighter Before Winning UFC Belt

Filed under: UFC, NewsNEWARK, N.J. — Jon Jones has a specific fight day ritual. He likes to visit a spot with some natural beauty to feel the energy of nature. It’s supposed to be a peaceful time, a way to collect his own power and find his focus.

On…

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Jon Jones defeated Shogun Rua at UFC 128.NEWARK, N.J. — Jon Jones has a specific fight day ritual. He likes to visit a spot with some natural beauty to feel the energy of nature. It’s supposed to be a peaceful time, a way to collect his own power and find his focus.

On Saturday afternoon, his peaceful spot turned to chaos. Jones found himself in the middle of a robbery, and along with coaches Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn, helped apprehend a thief.

Jones recounted the story in brilliant style following his star-making UFC 128 championship win over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, capping off a day that can only be classified as epic.

UFC Wastes No Time Pitting Jones Against Evans, With Good Reason

Filed under: UFCNEWARK, N.J. – Call it the championship life cycle: one legend is barely out of his post-knockout haze, his facial tissue still in mid-swell, when the new champ is already confronting his next challenger on a canvas where the blood hasn…

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NEWARK, N.J. – Call it the championship life cycle: one legend is barely out of his post-knockout haze, his facial tissue still in mid-swell, when the new champ is already confronting his next challenger on a canvas where the blood hasn’t even dried yet.

It wasn’t an unfamiliar encounter when former training partners Jon Jones and Rashad Evans shook hands in the middle of the Octagon before agreeing to beat each other up at some point in the near future. It also wasn’t exactly an enthusiastic agreement on either man’s part, though it was a decisive one.

Jones didn’t just beat Mauricio “Shogun” Rua to claim the UFC light heavyweight title at UFC 128 – he utterly demolished him. In a little less than three full rounds of combat, there wasn’t a second where it wasn’t Jones’ fight. Aside from possibly hurting his elbow on Rua’s skull, Jones had almost nothing to worry about in the biggest fight of his career.

Rashad Evans: I’m Done With Greg Jackson’s Gym

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NEWARK, N.J. — MMA Fighting spoke to Rashad Evans following Jon Jones‘ championship win over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at Saturday’s UFC 128 and Evans makes a startling comment regarding his status of his longtime Greg Jackson affiliation.

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NEWARK, N.J. — MMA Fighting spoke to Rashad Evans following Jon Jones‘ championship win over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at Saturday’s UFC 128 and Evans makes a startling comment regarding his status of his longtime Greg Jackson affiliation.

In His Own Words: Jon Jones’ Fight Week Quotes

Filed under: UFCNEWARK, N.J. — UFC 128 fight week has unquestionably been dominated by Jon Jones.

The light-heavyweight title challenger loves quotes; he collects them like kids used to collect baseball cards. He’s also the son of a preacher, and he …

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NEWARK, N.J. — UFC 128 fight week has unquestionably been dominated by Jon Jones.

The light-heavyweight title challenger loves quotes; he collects them like kids used to collect baseball cards. He’s also the son of a preacher, and he certainly inherited his father’s ability to rivet a room.

Win or lose against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua on Saturday night, Jones will walk away with an increased profile and the experience of fighting for the belt. Let it be said that he was no shrinking violet, commanding attention with his presence and insight.

Collected are a few interesting nuggets the 23-year-old rising star shared along the way.