UFC
UFC ON VERSUS 2 RESULTS: Jon Jones makes quick work of Vladimir Matyushenko in Versus main event
Aug 2, 2010 - 8:10:10 AM UFC ON VERSUS 2 RESULTS: Jon Jones makes quick work of Vladimir Matyushenko in Versus main event

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Jon Jones entered the Octagon on Sunday night in San Diego as one of the most heavily hyped young fighters on the UFC's roster. His performance against Vladimir Matyushenko did nothing to refute that hype.

Jones showed off his reach advantage and unique striking early in the fight, landing a straight jab and a spinning back kick to the body of "The Janitor." Matyushenko then tried to close the distance, and that's when Jones grabbed a body lock and tripped him to the ground.

Patiently passing to side control, Jones then jumped to the mounted crucifix position. There he unleashed a flurry of forearm/elbow strikes to Matyushenko's defenseless head. Referee Herb Dean saw enough after this quick flurry and he stopped the fight 1:52 into the first round.

Jones joined the company of Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Andrei Arlovski as the only fighters to finish "The Janitor," and the win pushed Jones even further in his UFC progression.

UFC President Dana White stated after the event that the fight pushed Jones into the top eight of the division, and his next opponent will be against a fellow fighter in the top eight. With most of the division locked up in fights currently, that could keep Jones out of action for a short time while he awaits the next matchup. Whomever he faces next, it's clear that his continually improving game will make him a formidable challenge for any fighter that stands across from him in the Octagon.

Penick's Analysis: Jones was incredible tonight. To do what he did against a fighter like Matyushenko, especially with how quickly he did it, is mind boggling. He continues to improve at an immensely impressive pace, and while White said a top eight fighter is next, there could be another star-making fight that you can put him in. Realistically the winner of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Ryan Bader at UFC 119 is a good opponent, but if the UFC wanted to further Jones' profile even further, they can scrap the planned bout between Matt Hamill and Tito Ortiz for UFC 121 in October stick Jones in there against Ortiz. A convincing and exciting win by Jones against Ortiz wouldn't do much for his standing in the light heavyweight division itself, but it would put him on a card with Brock Lesnar, allowing him a star making appearance on one of the biggest fight cards in the UFC's history. We'll see what they decide to do with him in the coming weeks, but for now it's very clear that he is the prospect to watch in the sport of MMA, and he's only going to get better.