Ever since claiming his title as the youngest UFC champion ever, Jon Jones has been thrust into stardom. He has put a hurting on everyone on his way to the top, and he is now preparing to make his first title defense. Popular and thriving young gun can be both doubted to deserve respect, and can also be awarded undeserved esteem. Jones has gotten a lot of both.
Jon Jones has been unwavering in victory, and possibly more so than any other champion in the UFC right now. In his last six fights, "Bones" has six clear-cut finishes. Even in his “loss” Matt Hamill whom he gave a concussion to, but was somehow disqualified for the angle of his elbows. The kid is producing knockouts like it was his job (it is). What is even more unbelievable about Jones is that he has never been hurt. There is a lot that can be learned about a fighter and a man in seeing how they are able to recover from being hit. Frankie Edgar is a perfect example of proving such heart. In his UFC 125 war with Gray Maynard, he was battered and rocked but he dug deep and found something that he had no idea was there. He was on the precipice of losing his belt, as he rolled over bloodied up and hanging on for dear life, desperately battling against a chilling knockout defeat. Recovering so dramatically the way the lightweight champion did, showed Frankie Edgar’s mighty heart and determination.
A fighter's ability to recover after being rocked is a touchstone of greatness. Jones may have this X-factor or he could lack it altogether, but no one knows, and this fight may very well present the critical test.
Rampage is going into this fight with a mission to reclaim his belt. Although a lot of the back and forth to promote this fight seems artificial, Rampage's utter lack of respect for Jones is very real. Rampage wants to show the young prodigy that his accomplished boxing style isn't gone. The former Pride/UFC Champion presents an interesting fight for “Bones”. What does Rampage have that could win him the title back? A granite chin.
Jones has been able to rock, and thrash his opponents with quick combinations of obscurely angled blows and all of them have been out of the fight fairly quickly. If Rampage can use his toughness to weather a little bombardment, and then accurately counter, he will be able to expose the 24 year-old champion. Seeing if Rampage has what it takes to execute, and hurt Jones, while surviving the most dangerous offense in today’s MMA is going to make for an amusing title bout.
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