UFC
UFC 128 RESULTS: Jon Jones destroys "Shogun" Rua to become youngest champ in UFC history; teammate Rashad Evans is next
Mar 20, 2011 - 9:20:54 AM UFC 128 RESULTS: Jon Jones destroys "Shogun" Rua to become youngest champ in UFC history; teammate Rashad Evans is next

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Jon "Bones" Jones lived up to all the hype on Saturday night at UFC 128 in New Jersey, defeating Mauricio "Shogun" Rua by TKO in a one-sided fight to become the youngest champion in UFC history.

Jones took the fight to Shogun from the opening, throwing a flying knee as they began the fight. He continued to outland Shogun on the feet, and took him to the ground. Jones did some damage on the ground, but Shogun was able to get onto his feet. Jones then continued the assault in the striking game, hurting Shogun with combinations and kicks.

In the second round it was much of the same, with Jones again taking over the striking game, avoiding Shogun's offense, and bringing the fight to the ground. But it was the third where Jones ended things.

After landing some big elbows on the ground, Jones hurt Shogun badly after the champ got to his feet. He cracked him as they got back up, chased him down to the cage, landed a big punch and then dropped him with a knee to the face. As Shogun fell to the ground, referee Herb Dean came in and called an end to the fight. Shogun laid on his back for several moments as doctors and cageside officials tended to him.

Jones will now meet his friend and training partner Rashad Evans for the belt, and the fight they both said a few weeks back would not happen is happening. A very serious Jones said simply "this is my dream, and I've got to do what I need to do."

Penick's Analysis: Barring injury, I just don't know that I can see anyone in this division defeating Jon Jones. He just destroyed Shogun in a fight that wasn't even competitive. That was by far the most experienced and most dangerous fighter Jones has ever faced, and he made it look easy. Now, even though Evans has trained with him and knows him well, there's just nothing I see Evans being able to do to take Jones out. This was a fantastic win for Jones, and a big statement to the MMA world. Jon Jones is very much the real deal, and as the youngest champion in UFC history, he's got a long, long career ahead of him.