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FLASHBACK: Keller's live report of UFC 87 debut for future Champ and UFC 140 headliner Jon Jones
Dec 6, 2011 - 6:50:28 PM FLASHBACK: Keller's live report of UFC 87 debut for future Champ and UFC 140 headliner Jon Jones

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UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones makes his second Title defense this Saturday night at UFC 140 against Lyoto Machida, and as he closes out 2011 with his fourth fight, it's worth a look back at where he began in the organization. At UFC 87 on August 9, 2008, less than a month after his 21st birthday, then 6-0 Jon Jones entered the Octagon for the very first time against Andre Gusmao. The fight in Minneapolis, Minn., was the first look fans would get at the future phenom, and MMATorch Supervising Editor Wade Keller was live cageside at the Target Center that night. Check out his round by round thoughts on the fight written live that night just over three years ago:

JONNY "BONES" JONES vs. ANDREW GUSMAO

ROUND ONE: Jones, who's the same height as Gusmao but has legs twice as long, shot in early, but Gusmao easily backed away. Gusmao landed a loud but harmless roundkick. Then things slowed down, with Jones doing a nice job resisting takedowns by Gusmao. At 2:00 Jones took Gusmao down. Late in the round Jones landed a low blow. The ref didn't see it right away and didn't step in and JOnes landed four hard punches to the face. The crowd booed loudly for some unknown reason as Gusmao got his allowed rest. Jones jogged in place in his corner as Gusmao adjusted and consoled his cup and continued to pace and wince on the edge of the Octagon. After about two minutes he nodded to the ref and was ready to go. Fighters alway overestimate how ready they are to restart the fight, but Gusmao took longer than most. Of course, he took not just a low blow but also four punches to the face. Jones won over the crowd big-time with two late attempts at spinning backfists and an aggressive finish to the round to secure a win.

ROUND TWO: Early in the round Jones hit another low blow. Gusmao went down in his corner to his knees. There was an attempt at a "bullsh--" chant. Replays showed that the blow seemed above the cup that time, and that Gusmao actually landed a low knee himself. After a short wait, the round restarted. Gusmao threw some strikes to get a rise from the crowd, but Jones bobbed out of the way of most of them. A minute later Jones went for another spinning backfist; it missed, but he landed a jab seconds later. Gusmao remained confident out there against the unorthodox Jones who remained the more aggressive of the two. Jones went for yet another spinning backfist. Gusmao seemed bored by it by now. Good round, all on their feet.

ROUND THREE: At 3:00, after more aggressively solid stand-up exchanges, the ref pulled them away from the edge and back to the middle. Jones was the aggressor still, but Gusmao was a strong counter-puncher and wasn't lying back. Jones hit a nice back reverse sidekick mid-round to Gusmao's stomach. At 4:00 Jones took Gusmao down to the mat and had side mount. Gusmao scored a nice upkick, fitting the pattern of the fight. Jones didn't back off, and in fact moved in to finish the fight on top. Gusmao waved his arms in excitement at the end of the fight, hoping to sway judges, but overall Jones deserves this fight however you want to score it. It wasn't one-sided, but Jones deserves the win.

DECISION: Jones via unanimous decision 30-27, 29-28, 30-27.

STAR RATING (**+): Jones is a fun fighter to watch. He danced after the decision was read and showed great charisma and showmanship without overdoing it during his fight. Gusmao should not hang his head (although he did as he left the Octagon) as the early low blow and four unprotected punches he took to the face could have been the difference as he didn't look bad, either.

Jones would again go to a decision in his next fight against Stephan Bonnar, but since then, "Bones" hasn't reached the judges scorecards, and he'll hope to continue that run in Toronto this weekend.

[Jon Jones art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]