Jon Jones has brought MMA to a whole new level of phenomenal
On the horn with:
Mota
SR WRITER
The UFC returned to where it all started in Denver, Colorado to give fight fans a title fight that showed off a total evolution of the sport.
UFC 135 was headlined by the young fighting prodigy Jon “Bones” Jones who had the daunting task of defending his light heavy weight belt against one of the most dangerous and respected sluggers in the light heavy weight division, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.
Jones vast tactical striking precision left Jackson completely dumbfounded and more importantly, it showed just how far the sport of Mixed Martial Arts has fully progressed.
(CONTINUED)...
Jones Choking Rampage to Submission
Nearly 18 years before, on November 12th in 1993 at the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver Colorado, the United States would gain its first witness at the future of combative sports.
An eight man tournament that had no weight classes and no time limits for each fight. The only way a fight would come to a halt was either by knock out, submission, a fighters corner could throw in the towel, or a referee stoppage due to a severe cut or injury.
Gloves were not allowed, unless of course you were former golden gloves boxer Art “One Glove” Jimmerson who came out to the octagon donning one glove on his jab hand to face the now UFC Hall of Famer Royce Gracie.
This was UFC 1: The Beginning. There was a Sumo Wrestler, a Dutch Savate master, a Kick Boxer, a Kenpo Karate fighter, a Taekwondo/Tang Soo Do fighter, a Boxer, a Shootfighter, and the smallest competitor a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu master. Each fighter was out to prove which style of fighting was superior to the others.
Although the now legendary Royce Gracie came out and dominated his opponents using jiu jitsu to gain submission wins and ultimately win the tournament, it paved the way for the fighting evolution that was to come.
In the early days of mixed martial arts fighting, besides having little rules and little safety, athletes usually specialized in one area of expertise. There were strikers, wrestlers, and jiu jitsu guys. The idea of the fight was to get the opponent into ones area of expertise and win the fight that way.
Through years of trial and error, the fight game began to transform. Rules changed to protect the fighters and fighters them selves changed and began to learn that in order to get to the next level of their fighting careers, it would become crucial to learn all aspects of the fight game.
In UFC 60, Matt Hughes used striking and wrestling to get Royce Gracie down to the canvas before finishing him with a TKO victory. The fight game was changing. No longer could one be good at just one area of fighting like Royce Gracie was. The original fighters who pioneered the sport were being left behind and a new breed of fighter was being born.
A guy like Chuck Liddell would use his wrestling skills to keep fights standing and to get to his feet when taken down so he could knock his opponents out. Randy Couture would use his wrestling to get opponents pressed against the cage where he would implore dirty boxing techniques and eventually wear his opponents down to set up a knock out or submission.
Matt Hughes, Rich Franklin, B.J. Penn, Anderson Silva, George St. Pierre and Fedor Emelianenko were fighters who really showed what it took to be a next level fighter and embraced what it meant to be a true Mixed Martial Artist. Each proving that not one style was best but a culmination of all styles were necessary to be an elite fighter.
On Saturday September 24th, 2011 at the Pepsi Center in Denver Colorado, the next step in fighter evolution was witnessed when young upstart Jon Jones completely dismantled the veteran Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. Jackson’s style of plodding forward and throwing devastating hay makers were too rudimentary for the type of fighter that makes up what Jon Jones is.
Jon Jones showed the world what a mixed martial artist looks like today. Either your at his level, or your completely left behind. It wasn’t just his reach advantage or speed advantage that had me impressed. Jones strikes were so varied and unpredictable, it made Rampage look amateur. Jones proved he can strike with the best, he can take down world class wrestlers and he can get the submission when he wants.
Jon Jones has fought such dominant performances and defeated two former champions in a row that it’s hard not to think of him as the blue print for the best fighter. Although I have Anderson Silva ranked higher as a fighter, it’s purely due to experience.
Both Jones and Silva have so many similarities that’s it almost eerie to think that Anderson Silva, the arguably best pound for pound best mixed martial artist, is 36 years old and Jon Jones, who isn’t that far away, is merely 24 years of age.
While fighters like George St. Pierre and Anderson Silva may carry more accolades, Jon Jones is right on their trail. He’s younger, hungry, and possibly more talented. Jon Jones is the next step in MMA. The bar has been raised.
Other young fighters to keep your eyes on: Jose Aldo, the featherweight phenom and Rory MacDonald, a Canadian power house that in my opinion will be a future champion.
On the horn with:
Mota
SR WRITER
The UFC returned to where it all started in Denver, Colorado to give fight fans a title fight that showed off a total evolution of the sport.
UFC 135 was headlined by the young fighting prodigy Jon “Bones” Jones who had the daunting task of defending his light heavy weight belt against one of the most dangerous and respected sluggers in the light heavy weight division, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson.
Jones vast tactical striking precision left Jackson completely dumbfounded and more importantly, it showed just how far the sport of Mixed Martial Arts has fully progressed.
(CONTINUED)...
Jones Choking Rampage to Submission
Nearly 18 years before, on November 12th in 1993 at the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver Colorado, the United States would gain its first witness at the future of combative sports.
An eight man tournament that had no weight classes and no time limits for each fight. The only way a fight would come to a halt was either by knock out, submission, a fighters corner could throw in the towel, or a referee stoppage due to a severe cut or injury.
Gloves were not allowed, unless of course you were former golden gloves boxer Art “One Glove” Jimmerson who came out to the octagon donning one glove on his jab hand to face the now UFC Hall of Famer Royce Gracie.
This was UFC 1: The Beginning. There was a Sumo Wrestler, a Dutch Savate master, a Kick Boxer, a Kenpo Karate fighter, a Taekwondo/Tang Soo Do fighter, a Boxer, a Shootfighter, and the smallest competitor a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu master. Each fighter was out to prove which style of fighting was superior to the others.
Although the now legendary Royce Gracie came out and dominated his opponents using jiu jitsu to gain submission wins and ultimately win the tournament, it paved the way for the fighting evolution that was to come.
In the early days of mixed martial arts fighting, besides having little rules and little safety, athletes usually specialized in one area of expertise. There were strikers, wrestlers, and jiu jitsu guys. The idea of the fight was to get the opponent into ones area of expertise and win the fight that way.
Through years of trial and error, the fight game began to transform. Rules changed to protect the fighters and fighters them selves changed and began to learn that in order to get to the next level of their fighting careers, it would become crucial to learn all aspects of the fight game.
In UFC 60, Matt Hughes used striking and wrestling to get Royce Gracie down to the canvas before finishing him with a TKO victory. The fight game was changing. No longer could one be good at just one area of fighting like Royce Gracie was. The original fighters who pioneered the sport were being left behind and a new breed of fighter was being born.
A guy like Chuck Liddell would use his wrestling skills to keep fights standing and to get to his feet when taken down so he could knock his opponents out. Randy Couture would use his wrestling to get opponents pressed against the cage where he would implore dirty boxing techniques and eventually wear his opponents down to set up a knock out or submission.
Matt Hughes, Rich Franklin, B.J. Penn, Anderson Silva, George St. Pierre and Fedor Emelianenko were fighters who really showed what it took to be a next level fighter and embraced what it meant to be a true Mixed Martial Artist. Each proving that not one style was best but a culmination of all styles were necessary to be an elite fighter.
On Saturday September 24th, 2011 at the Pepsi Center in Denver Colorado, the next step in fighter evolution was witnessed when young upstart Jon Jones completely dismantled the veteran Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. Jackson’s style of plodding forward and throwing devastating hay makers were too rudimentary for the type of fighter that makes up what Jon Jones is.
Jon Jones showed the world what a mixed martial artist looks like today. Either your at his level, or your completely left behind. It wasn’t just his reach advantage or speed advantage that had me impressed. Jones strikes were so varied and unpredictable, it made Rampage look amateur. Jones proved he can strike with the best, he can take down world class wrestlers and he can get the submission when he wants.
Jon Jones has fought such dominant performances and defeated two former champions in a row that it’s hard not to think of him as the blue print for the best fighter. Although I have Anderson Silva ranked higher as a fighter, it’s purely due to experience.
Both Jones and Silva have so many similarities that’s it almost eerie to think that Anderson Silva, the arguably best pound for pound best mixed martial artist, is 36 years old and Jon Jones, who isn’t that far away, is merely 24 years of age.
While fighters like George St. Pierre and Anderson Silva may carry more accolades, Jon Jones is right on their trail. He’s younger, hungry, and possibly more talented. Jon Jones is the next step in MMA. The bar has been raised.
Other young fighters to keep your eyes on: Jose Aldo, the featherweight phenom and Rory MacDonald, a Canadian power house that in my opinion will be a future champion.
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