UFC on Versus 2: Jon Jones - “The Contender”
Jon "Bones" Jones to face Vladimir Matyushenko at UFC on Versus 2 on August 1
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He is regarded as one of the UFC’s best light-heavyweight prospects, and now Jonny “Bones” Jones gets handed the responsibility of the promotions “go-to” guy for the promising “UFC on VS” series that began this March. The “UFC on VS 1” event featured Jones opposite muay-thai specialist Brandon Vera, and on August 1 st at “UFC on VS 2”, Jones will headline the San Diego-based card alongside longtime UFC veteran Vladimir “The Janitor” Matyushenko.
In all, when Jones enters the octagon next month, it will be his third consecutive bout that he has been the main attraction. The role of main event'ing a mid-level UFC show is one that he hasn’t taken for granted, but it’s also one that he doesn’t want to have forever. If he continues to dominate the middle of the UFC light-heavyweight pack, he is sure to pick up a bigger and better role, one that consists of headlining for a major UFC event card.
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Jones didn’t get his start on one of the eleven previously completed “The Ultimate Fighter” shows; it seems that he didn’t have months to spend spinning his wheels in unofficial bouts on the reality-based show. After running through the ranks as both a state wrestling champion in high-school and as a Junior College wrestling champ, he turned his attention to making a living as a mixed martial artist champion. He realized that he would have to start in the smaller shows and work his way up to the bigger show, but perhaps he didn’t plan on completing that process in a couple of months time.
Small-time, he did start, fighting near his New York home, in events in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Connecticut. His opponents were beginners as well, but after stopping his first four opponents, he finally met up with a worthy opponent, that being undefeated Parker Porter in the World Championship Fighting promotion. At WCF 6, on a card that featured former UFC lightweight Danny Lauzon and former WEC stalwart Mike Campbell, Jones dismantled Porter in just 26-seconds to earn his fifth consecutive victory. It was then that the rumors began to circulate about joining the UFC, as the WCF promotion is not only a UFC-friendly organization but also one of the promotions that they have pulled several fighters from. He ended up choosing to fight one more time before joining a major promotion. In that fight, he was matched up against (2-1) Moyses Gabin at Battle Cage Xtreme 5 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Gabin did make it into the 2nd round with Jones, but was TKO’ed (1:58) into the middle frame by a flurry of punches. With six stoppages in his first six bouts, spanning less than four months now was the time to advance for Jones. He signed a four-fight deal with the UFC shortly after that fight and was well on his way to becoming a major UFC star.
One month after crushing Gabin in the “minors”, and Jones now found himself competing among the world’s elite in the UFC. His first test was Brazilian striker Andre Gusmao, an undefeated finisher who was also making his octagon debut, at the August 2008 UFC 87. Gusmao proved that he was UFC worthy, but despite taking Jones all three rounds, was outscored on the judges’ cards giving “Bones” his first UFC victory. The same was the case at UFC 94 in January 2009 against Stephan Bonnar; he dominated and came out on top with a unanimous decision victory.
The results were the same, but Jones wasn’t showing the finishing skills that he knew he possessed. That was until UFC 100 in July 2009 when he hooked up against Jake O’Brien. Those finishing skills were on display as Jones utilized his flashy spinning back strikes and leaping kicks, but relied heavily on his old-fashioned wrestling skills to get O’Brien to the floor where he submitted him via 2 nd round guillotine choke. Afterwards, Jones praised his coach Greg Jackson for his efforts in molding him into a legitimate fighter.
Five months after choking O’Brien out and Jones was in the octagon again, at the TUF 10 Finale pitted against Matt Hamill in the main event. After overwhelming Hamill with punches and takedowns, Jones began the finishing process with his heavy elbows. The only problem was that the elbows were ruled illegal, as they were coming from an illegal angle. Jones was disqualified and handed his first ever loss, however after the bout he demonstrated pure class by instead of complaining and arguing, he insisted that he would come back better than before. Better he was, this time in March at “UFC on VS 1” against Vera. He earned the night’s “KO of the Night” honors by putting Vera on his back and thrashing him out with his heavy elbows and punches. The TKO finish was inevitable as the action was halted at 3:19 of the 1 st round.
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It is obvious that Jon Jones has a bright future in this blossoming sport. He has dominated all eleven of his career opponents, including Matt Hamill in his only loss, on his way to a 10-1 start. As long as he continues to follow the lead from his coach Greg Jackson, he should develop into a true contender for the light-heavyweight belt. As for his next bout, he will definitely face the smartest opponent of his young career in Matyushenko. Jones is younger, stronger, and more athletically gifted, not to mention the quicker of the two, and as long as he is patient with his veteran opponent, should come out on top.
Just like he did when he transitioned from an amateur to a professional, or when he transitioned from fighting in mid-level organizations to fighting in the UFC, it’s now time for him to make one more transition. It’s time for Jon Jones to move from prospect into a true top-level title contender. Although it will be his toughest test to date, if history repeats itself, it’s one test that he is sure to ace.
By Nick Russell
ProFighting-fans.com Senior MMA Staff Writer