#1
Jon Jones
“Bones”
(UFC Champion)
Summary: Wrestling, Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai
Fighter Info
Nickname: | Bones |
From: | Rochester, NY USA |
Fights Out Of: | Endicott, NY USA |
Age: | 23 |
Height: | 6' 4" ( 193 cm ) |
Weight: | 205 lb ( 93 kg ) |
College: | Iowa Central |
Degree: | Associates Degree |
Before entering MMA, Jones was a stand-out high school wrestler and state champion.[15] He also won a national JUCO championship at Iowa Central Community College.[15]
Jones made his professional MMA debut in April 2008.[15] He quickly amassed an undefeated record of 6-0 over a period of three months, finishing all of his opponents. This brought him to the attention of the UFC, who asked him to take a fight as a late replacement on two week's notice in July 2008.[15]
In his last bout before entering the UFC Jones defeated Moyses Gabin at BCX 5 for the USKBA Light Heavyweight Championship.[15] He won the fight via TKO in the second round.[16]
Jon "Bones" Jones had his debut UFC fight against Andre Gusmao at UFC 87 on August 9, 2008. Jones took the fight on two weeks notice as a late replacement for Tomasz Drwal.[15] He put on an impressive performance using takedowns and displaying unorthodox striking, such as spinning elbows and a spinning back kick. Despite being a heavy underdog, Jones took a unanimous decision victory.[17][18]
In his second fight, Jones fought veteran Stephan Bonnar at UFC 94 on January 31, 2009. Jones showed superior wrestling abilities and executed strong takedowns and powerful throws including a suplex. Again showing unorthodox striking, Jones secured one of Bonnar's legs and swiftly spun to deliver a back elbow that sent Bonnar face-down into the canvas during the first round. Although he appeared to tire in the third round, Jones held on to win another unanimous decision victory.[19][20]
Jones' third fight was against Jake O'Brien at UFC 100[21] on July 11, 2009. Jones controlled the majority of the fight by stuffing takedown attempts from his opponent. Jones stayed on the outside, exercising his reach advantage and finding his range toward the end of the first round with his right jab and high and low kicks. Halfway through the second round, Jones ducked and spun to deliver another one of his signature-back elbows that struck the top of O'Brien's head. Jones eventually secured a modified guillotine choke which rendered his opponent briefly unconscious just after he tapped.[22][23]
In September 2009, Jones was rewarded for his victories by signing a new four-fight contract with the UFC.[24]
On December 5, 2009 Jones faced off against fellow light heavyweight prospect Matt Hamill at The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights Finale. Despite dominating the fight, Jones was disqualified[25] for the use of multiple 12-6 elbows. The unified rules of mixed martial arts prohibit downward elbow strikes, and Jones was initially only penalized a point from the round. However, because Hamill could not continue, Jones was disqualified for these strikes. Consequently, the tape was reviewed and showed that Jones' elbows further damaged Hamill's already bloody and partially broken nose.[26][27] This also marked the first time that Nevada has used its recently-enacted instant replay rule, in which the referee's decision was supported by the commission which utilized a slow motion replay to review the elbows. Some analysts thought Jones should have won the fight because Hamill could not continue due to a shoulder injury and not the illegal elbow(s) he threw.[28]
Jones fought Brandon Vera on March 21, 2010 at UFC Live: Vera vs. Jones.[29] He won the fight by TKO (elbow) caused by an elbow to Vera's face followed up with punches in the first round.[30] The elbow delivered to stop the fight also broke Vera's face in three places.[31] Jones also won the "Knockout of the Night" award.[32]
Jones defeated former IFL Light Heavyweight Champion Vladimir Matyushenko by TKO due to elbows in 1:52 of the first round on August 1, 2010 at UFC Live: Jones vs. Matyushenko.[33] UFC President Dana White promised Jones a "huge step-up in the competition", if he managed to defeat Matyushenko.[34]
Following the fight with Matyushenko, UFC President Dana White said, "Vladimir Matyushenko is a guy who I have a a lot of respect for and I didn't think it was going to happen that easy. Jones is the real deal and he just catapulted himself tonight into the top eight in the world. Tonight solidified it. To go in and do what he did to Vladimir Matyushenko, and make it look as easy as he did tonight, it cements it for me. This kid is one of the top eight in the world in that weight division. He's got to keep his head together, stay focused and keep doing all the right things in training. He's smart, good looking and bad-ass. He's going to make a lot of money -- this kid is going to do very well. Right now in the 205-pound division, all these guys are fighting each other. When the smoke clears and the dust settles, Jon Jones will fight one of the top eight guys in the world for his next fight."[35]
After defeating Matyushenko, Jones has said that he next wants a "top-three opponent" for his next fight.[36]
Jones mentioned in an interview with Inside MMA that he would be facing the winner of Antônio Rogério Nogueira vs. Ryan Bader.[37] Reports that Jones had previously been offered a fight with Nogueira, but turned down the opportunity[38] turned out to be false.[39] In the Inside MMA interview Jones also stated he had been informed by Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta that if he finished his next two fights, he would likely receive a title shot.[37]
Dana White soon confirmed that Jones would face undefeated Ultimate Fighter winner Ryan Bader, on February 5, 2011 at UFC 126.[40] Jones went on to hand Bader his first professional loss by defeating him via tapout due to a guillotine choke in the second round after dominating Bader in the first round. Jones was awarded the "Submission of the Night" bonus.[41]
Following Jones' victory over Bader, it was revealed that title contender and Jones' training partner Rashad Evans had sustained a knee injury in training, and would not be able to compete in his scheduled match with current UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. Jones was told by Joe Rogan right after his bout had ended that he would replace Evans in the fight for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.[42]
At UFC 128, Jones defeated Mauricio Shogun Rua by TKO (body punch and knee) at 2:37 of Round 3 to become the youngest UFC light heavyweight champion. After landing an early flying knee which significantly hurt his opponent, the fight was extremely one sided for Jones. After a dominant and convincing performance, a body shot and knee to the head dropped the champion causing the referee to swiftly step in and halt the bout.
Rashad Evans, his former teammate and friend, was expected to be his first title defense.[43] However, Jones is now forecast to be out of action until late 2011,[44] while recovering from a ligament injury to his right hand. The injury was initially announced as requiring surgery, but Jones opted for rest and rehabilitation without surgery after further consultations with doctors. [45]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Jones
