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By: Cameron Lyman, MMATorch Contributor
Halfway through Jon Jones' most recent bout with motormouth Chael Sonnen, I realized what Mr. Jones was trying to do. Throwing out the expected game plan of striking from the outside, Jones began to implement the same strategy that many thought Chael would have to use in order to beat the champ. After watching Jones smother Sonnen and finish him with elbows, my friends and I began to giddily gab about the implications of his actions. Was this a message to Chael Sonnen, or Anderson Silva? Can anyone challenge Jones in the Light Heavyweight field? What will Jones look like in two years? And this was before we saw the Champ's big toe hanging from a thread. Was any part of this really a surprise? Jones has had a relatively short but storied history as a professional cage fighter. We see again and again that Jones always provides fuel for the fire for fans and haters to gather around to share their two cents.
In the spring of 2008, Jon Jones rapidly emerged in the MMA scene. A standout high school and college wrestler, Jones dropped out to pursue his MMA career to feed himself and his growing family. Incredibly, Jones fought his first four fights in just under one month. Cruising the regional circuits, he posted finishes in his first six fights, four of which came in the first round. Within four months of his first professional fight, Jon Jones would make his UFC debut as a replacement for Tomasz Drwal, on two weeks notice. Facing fellow undefeated UFC newcomer Andre Gusmao, Jones used impressive takedowns and unorthodox striking to secure a decision win; the first of his career.
His next fight came against veteran Stephan Bonnar, a tough opponent for his second UFC showing. The fight was not only a stiff test for Jones, but for Bonnar as well, who was riding a two fight finish streak after back to back losses. Although Jones again used impressive takedowns and a highlight reel spinning elbow that floored Bonnar, he seemed to tire a bit in the third round. As well, the fact that he couldn't finish Bonnar had some wondering if Jones' finishing prowess only came due to the calibre of fighters he had previously faced. The Jones hype train started its engines as he showed potential, but at this point it was too early to tell.
Jon's third UFC fight came against Jake O'Brien, who previously posted a ten-fight winning streak before being finished by Andrei Arlovski and Cain Velasquez. O'Brien dropped to light heavyweight and picked up a rebound win, but was then tapped to face the streaking Jones. Jon used his range, striking, and take down defense to dictate and dominate the first round. In the second round, after landing his now familiar spinning elbow, Jones sunk in a guillotine choke, giving him his first UFC finish. It was clear at this point that Jon was something special and was ready for a step up in competition. Just how special he was remained to be seen.
At the TUF Heavyweights Finale, Jones would face Matt Hamill. With seven wins, Hamill's only losses had come against Rich Franklin and Micheal Bisping. Showing his striking dominance, Jones quickly floored and mounted Hamill. With Jones raining down the most vicious elbows I have seen to this day, Hamill's face quickly did its best impression of a smashed tomato. Unfortunately, some of the last strikes that Jones threw were illegal 12-6 elbows. As Hamill could not continue, Jones was disqualified and handed his first loss. This would prove controversial as the fight was over before the illegal blows were landed. As well, the basis of the elbow's illegality was questioned by many, including commenter Joe Rogan.
Although Jones had lost his last fight, the UFC matchmakers put him in against Brandon Vera, a fighter who at one point was the next big thing at the heavier weight classes. Putting on another dominant performance, Jones planted elbows on Vera's face from his guard. Not only did these elbows finish the fight, they broke Vera's face in three places. He now had a UFC finish over a big name opponent. He was officially, the future of the sport, the new breed of MMA fighter.
At this point, many wondered what was next for Jones. Would the UFC continue to feed him fighters on the brink of the Top 10? Where did Jon sit himself? Should they give him more time to develop and not rush his title run? As he was only 22 years old, would Jones continue to improve at the same trajectory? One thing was clear: the Jon Jones hype train was nearing full speed, and picking up many passengers on its way. To break into the top ten, Jones would need to face and finish a gatekeeper and who better than former IFL Light Heavyweight champ, Vladamir Matyushenko.
Within two minutes of the fight with "The Janitor," Jones secured a mounted crucifix and bounced Matyushenko's head off the canvas with his elbow until the referee had seen enough. According to Dana White, Jon was now a top-eight fighter in the light heavyweight division. Officially surging, Jones had requested an opponent ranked in the top three for his next fight. Jon's aspirations for the title began to look a little murky, though, as his friend and training partner Rashad Evans was gunning for the belt. Both fighters stated that they would never face off in the Octagon, but with Jones looking so impressive, could that last?
As Jones had requested, he was given a top opponent: fast rising and undefeated TUF winner, Ryan Bader. Jones again dominated all exchanges and choked Bader out in the second round. Rashad Evans, who was slated to fight Mauricio Rua for the Light Heavyweight Title in six weeks, had to withdraw from the fight due to injury. During his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, Jones was informed that, because of Evans' injury, he had the opportunity to fight Shogun for the belt. With Rashad's blessing, Jones accepted the fight and the MMA world held its breath for the next six weeks.
Hours before the UFC 128 event, Jones had decided to go to a park to meditate. When Jon and his coaches heard an elderly woman shout, they noticed a man running from the scene. Jon and his coaches chased after the man, who had recently stolen a GPS from the elderly couple's car. With the help of his coaches, Jon apprehended the thief and held him while they waited for the authorities. You really couldn't buy better press at a better time. Hours later, Jones would drop Rua with a ballad of devastating strikes, making him the youngest Champion in UFC history.
At 23 years old, Jones seemed much more mature in not only his fight game but also in the way he presented himself. He was respectful and honorable; polite and humble. However, many questioned his on-air image as a facade, a carefully sculpted image of a champion being groomed for marketability. This was further fuelled by Jones stating in an interview that he would indeed fight Evans, if that's what the UFC wanted. In disgust, Evans called Jones a fake and "cocky," among other things, and so began his rivalry with his former friend.
The fight between the two would have to wait, as Jones was sidelined with an injury that required surgery, leaving Evans to opt for a fight with Tito Ortiz. After getting a second opinion, Jones passed on the surgery, and returned earlier than expected for his first Title defense against Quinton Jackson. Jones opted to avoid the trash talk, and instead made his statement in the cage, where he became the first man to submit the veteran. Rashad began to claim that Jones was ducking him, saying that he used to hold Jon down until he begged him to get off him during training. Again the Jones vs Evans bout was put together, but this time was delayed by an injury on Evans part.
Jones' character was again questioned during his next assignment, when he released the respectful Lyoto Machida from a standing guillotine choke. Jones turned away as he dropped the unconscious, former champion to crash to the canvas in a crumpled heap. As Machida was then the only man to defeat Evans, you couldn't help but think he was making another statement. Finally, the bout with Rashad Evans came to fruition with all of the hype you would imagine. However, Jones seemed to lack the killer instinct we had expected from him, as the fight went to a five round decision. People wondered aloud if Greg Jackson game planning was beginning to make the champion fight not to lose. There was a clear divide in the MMA world. But whether you loved or hated Jon, you could bet you were talking about him.
The next blow to Jon's character came just under a month later, when he crashed his Bentley into a utility pole, while under the influence of alcohol. This was also compounded by the fact that there were two female passengers aboard, neither of whom was Jon's at-the-time girlfriend and mother of his children. With the accident coming in the early hours of the morning and both women needing to be sent to the hospital with minor injuries, it began to look like this could be it for the champ. Many now claimed that Jones was indeed over-confident and fake, just as Rashad Evans had said. Was this the beginning of the end for Jon? Would this finally destroy his image? Apparently not, as three months later, Jon would become the first mixed martial artist to sign a worldwide sponsorship deal with sports powerhouse Nike.
Jones would soon make history again, but for the wrong reasons. With less than two weeks before a scheduled bout with Jones, Dan Henderson pulled out with an injury he had known about for weeks. Henderson's training partner, middleweight Chael Sonnen, was presented by the UFC as a replacement. Citing not having enough time to prepare for the opponent change, Jon turned the fight down. A disgusted Dana White publicly trashed Jones' decision and ultimately cancelled UFC 151; the first time the UFC has ever cancelled an event. Many pundits argued over who was to blame, whether it be UFC putting on a weak card, Dan Henderson failing to inform the UFC of his injury, or Jones turning down a fight with a man he should have no problem destroying. If Sonnen were to be given a title shot in a division he doesn't compete in, coming off a loss, what does that say about marketability in matchmaking?
Even a more sensible opponent, Lyoto Machida, who had been campaigning for a rematch with Jones, turned down the Jones bout, again sparking questions about whether fighters should refuse fights. In the end, Jones would face Vitor Belfort later that month, another middleweight. In a bout that was seen as a mismatch out of left field, Jones entered as a massive favorite. In a shock to all, in the first round, Belfort got Jones in a tight arm bar, almost pulling off a massive upset. Jones persevered and himself submitted Belfort in the forth, extending his streak of beating former champions to five. As this was the first time we had ever seen Jones in any real danger, this answered the question of the champ's heart but also showed that he was indeed human and could be beat.
Many pundits now placed Jones at number two on the pound for pound rankings. The super fight talk that had traditionally surrounded GSP and Anderson Silva had now switched to Jones and Silva. The two stated that they would not face each other but Dana White said that he would throw enough money at them to change their minds. As Silva and Jones were both dominant champions, many thought that this was the only fight that would test either fighter. It could be the biggest fight in UFC history as the UFC stated its desire to hold the event in a Brazilian soccer arena or Cowboys Stadium in Dallas. To this day, this remains the benchmark wet dream for all MMA fans.
Following the Belfort bout was the announcement that Jones would coach opposite Chael Sonnen in the 17th season of TUF. Again, the dialogue switched to how marketability was trumping contendership in the UFC's matchmaking process. Sonnen had talked his way into another title shot and other fighters were taking notice. After a season which lacked the trash talking many expected from Sonnen before a national television audience, Jones would provide an outcome that would again get us talking.
After Jones out-wrestled the man who out-wrestled Anderson Silva, fans and pundits began to talk about Jones' only real challenge coming at heavyweight. Compared to the Silva-GSP super-fight talk, we had been only been talking about Silva-Jones for a minute! Now we are talking about Jones facing Cain Velasquez for the Heavyweight Title? With only a few interesting fights left in his division and a growing frame, what is next for the champ? Should he continue to cut weight to 205 if he can or should he try to test himself at heavyweight? How would Jones face off against Junior dos Santos, Daniel Cormier, or Alistair Overeem? What is next for Jon? Whether it be the spectacular fighting skills, the questionable image, or where Jones will be truly challenged, one thing is certain: Jon Jones always gives us something to talk about.
[Jon Jones art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
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