UFC 128: Jon Jones Defeats Rua To Become Youngest UFC Champion

(props: mmavids.net)

Jon Jones’ performance last Saturday at UFC 128 was nothing short of amazing. He finished Mauricio Shogun Rua in the 3^rd round via TKO. Referee Herb Dean stepped in after a liver shot and a knee to the head of a visibly hurt Shogun. It was perhaps one of the best performances in the Octagon by anyone and the fact that Jon Jones and his team took down a thief hours before the fight makes it that more spectacular. Rua never looked like he was threatening Jones in the fight and diehard Shogun fans will say it could have been a result of a long layoff and the knee surgeries. However it simply isn’t an excuse to cast a shadow over Jones or his performance. He beat Rua in every aspect of the game, whether it was in the stand-up department or on the ground (where Jones delivered those signature Bones Elbows). The most impressive thing about Jones isn’t that he’s 23 and still earning; it’s the fact that his win against Rua just made Anderson Silva vs. Georges St-Pierre totally irrelevant. Jones now meets Rashad Evans (who stepped into the cage afterwards in a very awkward moment) in his first title defense. This has caused a rift in the Team Jackson camp and let`s just say this fight definitely deserves UFC Prime Time treatment.

Here`s what else went down (from Wikipedia…I know, I know):

Featherweight bout: Raphael Assunção vs. Erik Koch

Koch defeated Assunção via KO (punch) at 2:32 of round 1.

Catchweight (195 lb) bout: Nick Catone vs. Constantinos Philippou

Catone defeated Philippou via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).

Bantamweight bout: Joseph Benavidez vs. Ian Loveland

Benavidez defeated Loveland via unanimous decision (29–28, 30–27, 30–27).

Lightweight bout: Kurt Pellegrino vs. Gleison Tibau

Tibau defeated Pellegrino via split decision (29–28, 28–29, 29–28).

Welterweight bout: Ricardo Almeida vs. Mike Pyle

Pyle defeated Almeida via unanimous decision (29–28, 30–27, 30–27).

Lightweight bout: Edson Barboza vs. Anthony Njokuani

Barboza defeated Njokuani via unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28).

Light Heavyweight bout: Eliot Marshall vs. Luiz Cane

Cane defeated Marshall via TKO (punches) at 2:15 of round 1.

Heavyweight bout: Brendan Schaub vs. Mirko Filipović

Schaub defeated Filipović via TKO (punch) at 3:44 of round 3.

Middleweight bout: Nate Marquardt vs. Dan Miller

Marquardt defeated Miller via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).

Lightweight bout: Jim Miller vs. Kamal Shalorus

Miller defeated Shalorus via TKO (punches) at 2:15 of round 3.

Bantamweight bout: Urijah Faber vs. Eddie Wineland

Faber defeated Wineland by unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28).

Light Heavyweight Championship bout: Maurício Rua (c) vs. Jon Jones

Jones defeated Rua by TKO (strikes) at 2:37 of round 3 to become the new UFC Light Heavyweight Champion.

I went 12-2 and after 2 events, I am now 21-4. I don’t think I’m going to brag about my record anymore or even keep count (It`s not like I’m challenging anyone so it gets a little boring/cynical). I’ll just give my predictions from now on.