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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
In just six days, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones chases history when he takes on Chael Sonnen at UFC 159. A win will tie him with Tito Ortiz for the most consecutive defenses of the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship, bringing him one step closer to becoming the greatest Champion in that division's history.
But it was one year ago today when Jones had one of his biggest and most personal fights, a bout against former friend, mentor, and training partner Rashad Evans at UFC 145. That bout was the culmination of a training relationship gone sour, and a lot of bad blood was carried into the fight. Jones hoped the two could move past it afterward, but he said Sunday night on Twitter that the two still haven't spoken since that fight.
Wow didn't realize today was my UFC 145 anniversary.. One year later and Rashad and I still haven't spoke :(
The fight was a highly interesting five-round battle that remains the only fight since 2009 in which Jones has failed to finish an opponent. In advance of next week's title bout, we flashback tonight to last year's UFC 145 pay-per-view event, and MMATorch's round by round report from the fight. Read it below:
MAIN EVENT FIGHT TEN: JON JONES VS. RASHAD EVANS (UFC LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP)
ROUND ONE: Jones came to the center early. Jones landed a body shot as Evans circled around. Jones walked him down and landed a high kick. Evans continued to circle. He landed a hard body kick. Jones ducked under a punch and threw a knee. Evans scored a left. Jones threw a jumping side kick to the leg of Evans. Evans landed a short uppercut and a couple of punches, but Jones came right back. Evans blocked a straight kick. Jones went high with the kick again. He landed a right, then a punch to the body. He landed a leg kick. Jones landed a side kick. He ducked under a punch and pushed Evans back. Jones landed a short forearm in close. Jones went to the body. He clipped Evans with a left. Jones landed a kick to the knee. Evans got in a leg kick. Jones threw a straight kick that grazed Evans' face. He landed another kick to the lead leg. Jones landed a jumping body kick. He got in a superman punch and a couple quick and hard body kicks. Jones landed the left hook again. He landed a hard body shot. Evans went high with a kick and Jones backed off. Evans tried to press in. Jones went for a knee. He missed another one. Jones landed a big left as the horn sounded.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Jones. He's pressing the action, landing quite often, and keeping Evans a bit off. Evans made him think with that late head kick though.
ROUND TWO: Jones grabbed a clinch early and Evans landed a knee. Jones got one in himself and separated with an elbow. Jones landed a hard leg kick. He missed a couple of looping strikes. Jones grazed Evans with an uppercut. Jones pressed Evans to the cage and missed a couple of strikes and Evans taunted him. Jones missed a spinning kick and Evans tried to grab a hold of him. Jones got loose, though. Jones went up high with a kick. Evans landed a jab. Jones responded with one of his own. Evans landed a body punch. Jones landed a hard elbow. Evans got in a hard leg kick. Jones landed a hard jab. Jones landed another excellent short elbow. He rocked Evans with a noter hard elbow. Evans grabbed a clinch, but he's hurting. Jones landed another one. He pressed Evans to the cage. He landed a knee. He landed another elbow to press away. Jones landed a body kick. Evans recovered a bit. Jones landed the short elbow again. He smashed his jaw with the elbow again. Evans threw the overhand right. Jones again scored with the elbow. Jones landed a flying knee. He rocked Evans with two strikes at the horn.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Jones. Not enough offense for a 10-8, but he's got Evans really hurt right now. Those short elbow strikes are just so vicious, and Evans didn't see them coming.
ROUND THREE: Jones went for a high kick but it missed. Evans landed a hard right and Jones backed up. He tried to walk Jones down. Jones came right back with a left. Jones threw the overhand right. Jones landed an inside leg kick. Jones landed a hard kick up high but Evans looked ok. Jones kept pressing. He landed a jab. He landed another hard jab. Evans landed a leg kick. They traded jabs. Jones landed a knee and an elbow. He got in a hard body kick and a kick to the leg. Jones landed the flying knee. Evans got in a right. They traded strikes int he center. Jones landed a vicious body kick and a stiff jab. He got in a leg kick right after. Jones backed Evans up to the cage with the jab. Evans shot in but Jones easily stuffed it. Jones shoved him away. Jones looked down and threw a kick high. He landed another hard elbow as Jones connected to the body. Jones went high with a kick then a spin at the end of the round.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Jones. The Champ is in full control. He's answering any questions about his chin, as he's taken a couple of hard punches from Evans. But he's in control fully here.
ROUND FOUR: Jones again moved forward early. He landed a nice hook 30 seconds in. Jones tagged him with a couple of jabs. Jones landed a straight kick. Jones went for his spinning elbow but Evans avoided it. Jones landed a leg kick. Evans ducked under and clinched, but Jones stuffed it again. Jones got a jab in again. Jones caught a kick and landed a nice right. Evans landed an inside leg kick. Jones landed a short hook. Jones got in another left. Evans landed a jab. The crowd got a little restless as the action slowed. Jones landed a jab. Jones landed a hard leg kick. Jones hopped in close and backed Evans up. Rashad shot in, but Jones stuffed it with a choke attempt and landed a knee to break loose. Evans missed a right. Jones landed the straight elbow again. Jones tried to grab a thai clinch, but Evans got in closer. They traded knees. Jones threw his shoulder into Evans' jaw. Jones went high with a kick. Jones shot in and Evans stuffed him at the horn.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Jones. He's in complete control, and Evans hasn't been able to do much of anything. He's on his heels, and backing up the entire time. Jones is more than comfortably ahead into the fifth.
ROUND FIVE: Jones came in with a jab. Evans threw a left but was blocked. Jones threw a straight. Jones landed a few jabs. He landed a body punch. Evans landed a leg kick. Jones danced around a bit. Jones landed a leg kick. Jones landed a nice right and avoided the counter. He landed a hard jab. He landed another hard right that got through. He got in with a nice elbow, then kicked Evans in face with a straight kick. Evans threw a spinning back fist and completely missed. Jones landed a big kick and jumped in with a knee and clinched. The crowd booed the clinch. Jones landed a nice elbow as he separated. Jones landed a hard kick. Jones landed a few more jabs. He got in a straight kick. Jones clinched again in the center. He landed the shoulder strike. He threw Evans to the ground with a trip and landed a couple of strikes but Evans scrambled to his feet. He landed a knee to the body. They separated with 30 seconds left. Jones landed a left hook. Jones pulled guard with 10 seconds left and ended the fight on his back.
Penick's Scorecard: 10-9 Jones. That was just Jones showing Evans he's on a completely different level as a fighter. Evans wasn't able to do anything, and Jones wasn't even anywhere near at his best tonight. It's incredible what he can do in the cage.
WINNER: Jones via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 50-45)
-Evans gave Jones credit for keeping him off his game all night. He said there were some similarities to their training, but some differences. He gave Jones credit for those short elbows that got through.
STAR RATING: (***+) Jon Jones was just on another level tonight. It's absolutely crazy how poorly he was able to make Evans look. And make no mistake, Evans is capable of beating pretty much everyone else in the light heavyweight division, Jones is just that much better in every aspect of the game right now. Incredibly innovative with his short elbow strikes that really did keep Evans out of it here. This was further proof that Jones is the best light heavyweight in the world, and may just be the best fighter in the world, period.
[Jon Jones art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
STAFF COLUMNISTS: Shawn Ennis - Jason Amadi
Frank Hyden - Rich Hansen
Chris Park - Matt Pelkey
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