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By: Jason Bent, MMATorch Columnist The "American Psycho" returns to the Octagon following a long road to recovery since a knee injury suffered in training caused him to need reconstructive knee surgery. He returns to face Jon Jones who is only 21 years of age and hasn't even finished his first year of competition in MMA. Bonnar is one of the stars from the very first edition of 'The Ultimate Fighter,' and it was his fight with Forrest Griffin at the show's finale that served to put the UFC on the map, as 'The Ultimate Fighter' is responsible for drawing many of today's fans to the sport. His impact on the sport cannot be denied for this reason alone, but he is hoping to be remembered for more than this and it all begins with this bout against Jones. Jon Jones is a wunderkind who is hoping to put Bonnar's name on his resume and embark on a climb up the ranks of the UFC's ultra talented light heavyweight division.
One fighter wishes to be more than just a footnote in the history of MMA and continue towards being a viable challenger, while the other is hoping to use his opponent's name to further his rise in the UFC. It is unknown just how well Bonnar will be able to rebound from such an injury, and it is also unknown just what a fighter like Jones can do in this sport, but we will certainly take the first steps towards answering any and all questions on Saturday night.
Stephan Bonnar is one of the most well known fighters in the UFC who hasn't really done all that much since his time on 'The Ultimate Fighter.' He was out for almost a year following a positive test for steroids following his rematch with Forrest Griffin, and he has now missed well over a year due to the knee injury; and at 31 years old it would appear that he hasn't much time left to make his presence felt. His promise has been unfulfilled and so many have wished for good things to happen for Bonnar because he is just such a likable person. He entered into our homes on a weekly basis during that first season of 'TUF' and won us over with his gritty performance against Griffin, but since then it seems as if he has been unable to make it to that next level.
Bonnar's MMA record stands at 12-4 with 7 of his wins coming by submission and 2 by way of KO. Some of Bonnar's victories have come against such notable names as James Irvin, Keith Jardine, Terry Martin and Eric Schafer. While he hasn't fought too many of the top names it is a fact that his losses have only come against the very best he has faced as Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans and Lyoto Machida are the only fighters to have defeated Bonnar. This is quite impressive, and especially so when you consider that both Griffin and Evans have been UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and Machida is a fight away from getting a chance to challenge Evans for that very same title.
Bonnar is a very talented boxer who once competed in the Golden Gloves, and he also holds the rank of purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His preference is to stand and trade, as was evident in his first bout with Griffin, but he is capable of pulling off the submission and isn't out of his element when the fight hits the ground. Training at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas has certainly done him much good, and all reports out of his camp seem to suggest that he has fully recovered from the knee surgery, but this can't really be proven until he steps inside of the Octagon once more. Bonnar is an engaging personality who fights in a crowd pleasing style and as such is quite the fan favorite. This is a guy who most wish to see succeed, and he should have every chance to when he makes his return at UFC 94.
Jon Jones is something special. He was a state wrestling champion at the high school level and moved on to win a National Junior College Championship during his stint at Iowa Central Community College. He moved on to Morrisville State College before signing with the UFC, and is currently the youngest fighter on the company's roster. My only knowledge of him is based off of seeing him fight on the UFC 87 card as well as his victory over Parker Porter in the WCF. What I see is a gifted wrestler who actually has the ability to punch, and this is what I feel is what makes him special and capable of rising quickly within the UFC. Many wrestlers need to learn how to fight and throw effective punches, but he seems to have a leg up and is already comfortable doing so. He is far from polished, and his game has many flaws, but it is hard to believe he is as good as he is and at such a young age. The sky is the limit for this kid.
Jon Jones's MMA record stands at 7-0, with 5 of these coming by way of KO, 1 by submission and only 1 by decision. This bout with Bonnar will be his eighth professional fight in less than one full year, and his second in the UFC. It should be noted that his first bout in the UFC went the distance as he got the unanimous decision victory over Andre Gusmao, and this is a prime example of just how much work he needs, as this was the first time he was not able to run over an opponent. It was a dominant performance, but Gusmao is not what I could call a top tier fighter, and if anything this showed us that Jones is still very much a rookie. Jones has a world of talent and seems to be well on his way to a great career in MMA, but this doesn't mean we should pencil him in for a title fight in 2010. He needs a lot of work and to show us marked improvement, and his bout with Bonnar will be one hell of a litmus test and a fight I am not sure if I would have put him in at this stage of his career. I really think he needs another fight or two before stepping up but he could prove me wrong in an instant on Saturday night.
For Stephan Bonnar to win this fight he is going to need to be fully recovered from his knee injury ,not only in the physical sense but mentally as well. Once an athlete hears that pop and feels the pain it creates a vulnerability that proves difficult to deal with for many. Can he still move forward in his calculatedly reckless style and not have any second thoughts about planting his foot or what should happen if he twists his knee? Experience is on Bonnar's side and he has fought under the bright lights and been the center of attraction before, and as such he should not be ruffled by the sheer magnitude of this mega event. Bonnar should be at his very best in terms of preparation as he is working with nothing but world class guys and being put through the paces at Xtreme Couture on a daily basis. His mind should be sharp, and if his body is even close than this should be his fight to win and by TKO. I see these men standing toe to toe and duking it out and Jones's macho bravado could do him in against a much more refined striker in Bonnar at this stage of the game.
For Jon Jones to win this bout he is going to have to hope that Bonnar is a little rusty, or simply hesitant to go right away. Jones needs to push the pace and try to get into a rhythm, which is going to prove difficult against a talented striker such as Bonnar. Jones could look to wrestle and take this one to the ground, but there is way too much risk and too little reward down there against a guy with the experience and knowledge to end this one early and submit the rookie. Jones is going to need to mix it up and consistently change levels while doing his best to test the wheels of Bonnar and see just how well that knee has healed. Jones should not be nervous, but it would be ill advised for him to feel as if he can just stand in front of Stephan and get the best of every exchange. The young man is going to need to walk his man down and run him ragged while landing his shots and consistently being on the move, while also thinking ahead to what he shall do next. Physically Jones could have an advantage, but knowing what to do makes all the difference, and he must retain his cool and listen to his corner if he hopes to stick this one out and have a chance to pull off the upset victory. Bonnar is not the opponent for Jones to bust out similar moves to those he displayed at UFC 87, and keeping his cool will make all the difference as one mistake could be just enough to do the rookie in.
Bent's Prediction: Stephan Bonnar by 2nd Round TKO
This fight will be crowd pleasing for as long as it lasts, but with these two guys that is a no-brainer. I predict that Jones will be able to make it through the first round and should win the respect of Bonnar early on with his raw power and athleticism. However, this newfound confidence could cause Jones to throw caution to the wind and stand on a dime to trade with the "American Psycho," and this is how his night will end. Bonnar is back, and Jones will be back, but this one will be a return to action and the win column for Stephan Bonnar.
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