A Force to Be Reckoned With: A Look at one of the UFC's Hottest Prospects
by AintNoSunshine on Mar 5, 2010 9:56 PM EST
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What is it like to Train at a highly touted, world recognized and very well respected Mixed Martial Arts Gym? Of the verbs that come to mind, overwhelming, humbling and inspiring are first to pop into my mind. Seeing fighters recognized as elite by many, hard workers that are highly respected and larger then life athletes and superstars on normal basis have become ordinary for me as time has passed but when focusing in on the bigger picture its still as intimadating as the first day I started there. Enough of the Intro... Basically Greg Jackson and Coach Winklejohn have collectively (w/ Phil Nurse as well) built a MMA Corner Stone Foundation for fighters to train to go to the next level and reach full potentials. We have seen UFC stars blossom their careers there. The likes of Rashad Evans the former UFC LHW Champ and Company Man Keith Jardine have taken raw talent and stints on The Ultimate Fighter to achieve success on MMA's biggest stage and form lucrative careers. We have seen well accomplished fighters make the jump to partner with the Jackson Submission Camp to continue to further improve and evolve. That man of course being George St. Pierre. We have seen fighters on a string of disappointments or slumps ready to enhance something within their skill set to continue to improve. Melvin Guillard, Carlos Condit, Cub Swanson and Elliot Marshall come to mind. Jacksons isnt just Albuquerque based, long time fighter Nate Marquadt has started his own gym where Jackon's fighters train at including Shane Carwin. St. Pierre has continued his training at Tri-Star where alot of guys also visit to help in training or to get him in their training as well. Fit NHB and Renzo Gracia MMA have also made the partnership with Greg and with that there has thus been created a MMA entity with room for any discipline.
With that said I have seen alot of fighters make their journey into and out of Jackson's. And in the last few months more importantly these last few weeks I have realized that I have personally witnessed and continue to witness the blossoming of the future of our sport. Now God forbid any ill will comes for this young man as he has the potential to reach and obtain true greatness in our sport and help our sport reach closer and closer to mainstream.
That Man.... is Jon Jones.
Jones is 22 Years Old. About to Turn 23. Why is that important? Because the top ranked UFC LHW's are Machida, 31 - Rua, 28 - Evans, 30 - Rampage, 31 and Lil Nog, 33 respectively. He is no where near his physical prime nor has his body finished developing. And to add to that his frame and physique is already impressive. The age also means this. The chamion Machida has fought since 2003. Now ignore a freak of nature like Randy Couture and assume most fighters will reach their peaks and decline or retire in their late 30's. That means Machida has an estimated 6-7 years where he may be or may not be in phsyical condition to compete at his high level. Of course this is all theoretical but if thats the case Jon Jones has close to 13-15 years of MMA in him barring injury or other unforeseen events. Through his career already, Jon Jones has pulled a 9-1 Record with his lone loss coming from a DQ due to downward (12-6) elbows of Matt Hamil. A Fight he was absolutely dominating up until the DQ. He has notable wins over Stephan Bonnar, Jake O'Brien and Andre Gusmao. He is slated to fight Brandon Vera in March.
via i49.tinypic.com
Now to the real interesting stuff. I dont want to turn into a name dropper or anything but I am going to share my own personal experiences and things I have witnessed first hand. Jon Jones is the real deal. He is an absolute monster in that gym. Of course he had been at tri-star for a while and the last few months has been pretty much propped inside Jacksons. As I Mentioned earlier Jacksons is filled with alot of very high profile fighters and trainers and thus gives me the ability to help give all of you an insight as to how good this kid really is.
via i30.tinypic.com
Jones wrestling has already been proven to be nothing short of explosive, powerful and dynamic. Through unique in their and you have possibly one of the best wrestlers at 205 if not MMA. Jake O'Brien was supposed to present him the challenge of facing another accomplished wrestler which Jones walked through and Hamill was a very gifted wrestler who was suprisingly thrown around by a much better Jones. In Jacksons camp we have very good wrestlers. George St. Pierre and Rashad Evans most known, Shane Carwin with NCAA credentials and Keith Jardine with a more raw but successful defensive wrestling. I have never once seen Jon Jones being thrown, liften or beaten in wrestling circles in the contrary I have seen Jones actually out wrestle Evans very handily. Now that says something about a 22 year old out wrestling a very well accomplished former MMA champion. Thats just the start of it. For those of you unaware of the kids background he is a state wrestling champion, a Junior College Champion and a Greco-Roman Wrestling practioner.
So I wonder then... sometimes Wrestlers are prone to be vulnerable off their backs especially against BJJ fighters. I have seen big boys like Rolles Gracie unable to submit Jon Jones, as well as Black Belt Rashad Evans. I have seen big smothering wrestlers like Shane Carwin and atheltiic wrestlers like St. Pierre unable to even come close to holding Jones down. Guys from Brazil and from Renzo camp come to do BJJ and practice Gaidojutsu in my time there havent been able to submit or control Jon Jones on the ground. Basically what I am saying is he is explosive and dynamic and maybe the most versed MMA wrestler sans St. Pierre that Jackson's boasts and also possibly in the top echelon in MMA today.
Still, thats not what has impressed me the most about Jones. Its not even his striking. However his striking is amazing. As most of you know striking is not lagging in this camp. Not only does Jones surpass all these gusy in training but has smashed many sparring partners. He hits hard, he hist at different angles and his use of unorthodox forms of striking makes him dynamit especially with 4oz gloves. I have seen an array of finishing strikes ranging from elbows and knee to punches and kicks. He is incredible, the retained knowledge the guy keeps his amazing. I havent seen him come to the gym unprepared or worse then the day before. Bottom line is the guys a gamer and dedicated to this sport.
via i50.tinypic.com
Where it gets real good is his whole MMA training. Not only does he get involved in every activity possible, he wants to learn things in any way shape or form. He has hunger to improve and a desire to win. Someone asked me the other day who would win between him and Vera. Jones has never fought an elite striker, not a great Muay Thai Striker and nobody of the name caliber of Vera. My answer was there wouldnt even be a fight that night. Jones will crush Vera's Muay Thai. Phil Nurse is Jone's Muay Thai coach and if you dont know Nurse's Muay Thai credentials by all means just throw a search of his name. Winklejohn is his Boxing Coach. And his grappling is already top notch. He fights, trains and beats some of the elite fighters in his camp and from what I have heard the kickboxers that train at Tri-Star also offer little difficulty for him. I know James McSweeney has nothing to offer in the striking department and he is probably the most well credentialed striker there.
My real point here. Is after the Vera fight you will all be witness to the path to a champion. Hopefully the path wont be rushed because by 2011 I see Jon Jones being the next title contender and the next UFC LHW champion. Now I know alot of you will say he is all hype right now but believe what you will, I have seen this guy first hand and I will attest to him being maybe the most coveted commodity the UFC has and its brightest prospect. Add in his charisma and work ethic and he has the makings of a very marketable star.
via i40.tinypic.com
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I wish I could Get Video During Training. That Would totally get you Guys Wild For This Guy
by AintNoSunshine on Mar 5, 2010 9:57 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
that would be cool
but i was sold a long time ago. I first saw him in the Bonnar fight and although I was already paying attention to his story it was pretty obvious he was on a path that night. His next two fights confirmed the early buzz. He also has a unique coolness to him that makes him easy to like. All that plus this detailed review by ANS which further confirms what i’d been hearing – that he is of gifted ability… which could be Prodigy status when compared to BJ in his early days.
Jones is a calm, clever and a dangerous guy. I’m also a Vera fan and I think Jon walks straight through him. It helps to have a great nic name. He is one of my top 5 personal favs.
I want Ricardo Arona to sign with the UFC and his first fight should be James Toney. This is a win win scenario for MMA
That was beautiful post AintNo.
It confirms the idea I had of this awesome upstart. Jones will surpass Fedor, GSP and Silva in the best pound for pound of all time ranking. In time.
REC
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. - Herm Albright
Bold Statement Yan
Great read ANS but I dunno am I gonna say he’s gonna get BJ, GSP etc level just yet. MMA is still evolving so we’re getting better athletes to see every day. I wouldn’t be surprised to see another Jones in the next year in any weight class. MMA competition is getting tougher, just look at LW (with the exception of BJ)
I think we’re gonna start seeing closer, more exciting fights as more cross over to MMA training at an earlier age. I think Bones is an example of what’s to come in the future. And I love it, Jones is unreal to watch
But what if Bones loses?
What do we make of him?
Think about how dumb the average person is, then realize that half of them are even dumber than that.
- P-Dub
by The Negation on Mar 12, 2010 8:23 AM EST up reply actions
UFC bias and double standards
You’ll have to forgive me, but I’m skeptical of “gym hype.” Saying he’s going to demolish Vera in the striking is pretty bold considering Vera has great MT, and Jones hasn’t proven to be such a deadly striker, short of a couple flashy spinning elbows.
And does he gas out after the first round in training as well? Or maybe the wild throws he does would actually result in an effective takedown rather than allowing his opponent time to get right back up?
Look, the kid is obviously talented but he still hasn’t beaten anyone very good. He’s basically in the same position as King Mo, but in honesty Whitehead and Wiuff are more credible than any of Jones’ opponents, no matter what the UFC would try to make you believe. If I had to bet, I would say he would lose to King Mo, who doesn’t get one tenth of Jones’ hype. Funny how someone can win 17 straight or so outside the UFC and get no recognition (i.e. Khalidov), but win a few in the UFC straight and it’s “OH MY GOD TOP 10, CONTENDER!” regardless of the level of competetion.
Anderson Silva is p4p the greatest fighter of all time, Fedor and GSP fear the mighty Spider
its not just about gym hype frost
you are watching his fights right? There is something about him – you know your watching something special. His creativity is very impressive. His decision making while in the fight is very very good which is what i first noticed. It’s so early and his instincts and ability are fairly obvious.
King Mo? really? Whitehead and Kerr or Bonnar and Hamil. Dude WTF.
I want Ricardo Arona to sign with the UFC and his first fight should be James Toney. This is a win win scenario for MMA
I’ve seen him fight and aside from the wrestling in the hamill fight not been that impressed. If you remember he gassed pretty noticeably against Bonnar, who was actually outstriking Jones aside from that one spinning elbow.
Whitehead is a perfectly legit opponent, and so is Wiuff, especially for someone’s FIRST FIGHT. How many fighters have faced anyone like Wiuff (who, by the way, has a KO victory over Jardine) in their first fight? This is a guy with 58 wins…nobody that Bones has faced. has a resume that compares to his
Anderson Silva is p4p the greatest fighter of all time, Fedor and GSP fear the mighty Spider
you're right frosnt1
I haven’t seen any striker coming from Jacksons that is better than Vera either.
I’m also pretty sure Vera would be able to handle a guy like Rashad in wrestling, he’s much bigger.
familiar faces in unfamiliar places.
most top LHW’s are also probably the best in their gym since LHW is the weight class where the best athletes compete.
familiar faces in unfamiliar places.
He hasn't been getting any undeserved hype
First off UFC fighters get more hype because they fight in the #1 organization in the world, so they will get more hype than any other orgs fighters period besides walker and Cansenco in the USA. Second Jones is a exiting prospect because of his exciting style and obvious skills along with his great height and reach witch by the way is 85" the most in MMA compared to Vera’s long reach of 78". With his talents the only question that remains for this guy is how will respond from being in a real struggle? Is Vera the man to give him the challenge? Now King Mo is one of the top talents at LHW outside the UFC but honestly “The African Assassin” cold beat the guys with little problem that Mo has infact I think Bonnar could as well.
"Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth - Mike Tyson
this is some martha stewart shit
My money was already on jones, but after reading this, I’m gonna sleep good. Great post ans…
He’s going to throw a liver kick ~Bas~
by DrewMoney$$$ on Mar 5, 2010 11:22 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Thanks ANS
I too believe Jones is the future. I’ve been telling all my casual fan friends about him. That’s another thing that’s cool about Jones is that after watching them they all love him because of his unique style.
"He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man." -Dr. Johnson
Very interesting insight on Bones
I, like several others, first saw Jones in the Bonnar fight and was immediately impressed. It wasn’t a flawless victory, but it stood out in my mind that this was someone to watch. I am (still) on the wagon!
Albino Mormon 4 Life
I believe in Jones
But….I am waiting until after this fight with Vera to really jump the bandwagon. We have not seen him against a good striker yet, Im interested to see how he reacts to getting hit (which we have not seen yet really). 205 is so strong, I am waiting one more fight to see where Jones fits in.
Other prospects include George Sotiropolous, Paulo Thiago, Alan Belcher and Todd Duffee. I am interested to see how each progresses in their respective divisions. Obviously there are others, but these are the guys that have a similar # of fights in the UFC to Jones or fewer, and IMO show promise
Great post, ANS.
Friends and lovers lie endlessly, caught in the web of duty. Only enemies speak the truth.
-Stephen King
by OJR on Mar 6, 2010 9:55 AM EST up reply actions
has he been clipped properly yet when he is sparring, not with 16oz gloves, but 4oz gloves?
great post and insight, cheers..
i like bones, he is charismatic, and has a must watch style, could definately be a factor in propeling our beautiful sport to the next level, along with king mo and the rest of the top talent..(think bones is better than king mo though)(imho)
rec’d ans
by freedomthrtyfve on Mar 6, 2010 11:12 AM EST reply actions
I Have Seen Him Get Pretty Hard
Never Dropped Though. With Any Kind Of Gloves. However I have seen Carlos Condit give him a accidental Nut Shot. That Dropped Him.
by AintNoSunshine on Mar 8, 2010 2:12 PM EST up reply actions
Great post
I think he’s going to be a contender by 2011 at least, will he be the champion. I think he could but it will be no cake walk and we will see Jones tested, at the very end you stated his work ethic being top notch and I beleive is 110% correct he has looked better and better everytime he has stepped in the octagon and to go with that I also get a vibe from Jones that his desire to compete and win is that of a champion. His loss against Hamill is a victory in most eyes and why he’s moving up the ladder.
"Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth - Mike Tyson
I got Vera
I’m a huge fan and he must be pissed after he got robbed of a win vs. Randy! He has better standup and was a D-1 wrestler, he just needs to come out like he did a few years ago!
Bones is too athletic for Vera. Bones is the real deal and Vera was a flash in the pan.
I think Bones would dominate Randy Couture. That’s right, I SAID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I AM SOMETIMES BIASED - Get over it!!!!!!!
i see vera putting the humble pie on a lot of faces this coming year, including jones..
for some reason people are not so sure how people see jon jones beating vera.. standing up? on the ground? who has jones beat that has a bjj belt of any kind? bonnar maybe? but who has bonnar submitted james irvin? hes a striker with like a green belt in bjj from cassio werneck i think thats how you spell his name haha
jones is overly hyped for good reason yes but not so soon, i dont see how someone said his decision making is great every moron on the planet knew those elbows he threw were illegal so why the f throw them? and the elbow on bonnar isnt hitting someone on the back of the head illegal? i know it wasnt called but it seems pretty behind the head to me
by randy murders on Mar 12, 2010 1:39 AM EST up reply actions
vera said he was going to go "old school" on jones.
i think it will be b. vera just looking old vs jon jones speed.
I'm all about covering the spread and moneylines. I was building a house, I don't deserve this, deserves have nothing to do with it. Bang. "Unforgiven" I drink your milkshake. I drink it up! "There Will BE Blood"
by wolfmanshowlforever on Mar 6, 2010 1:17 PM EST reply actions
I knew you were going to write about Jones, ANS.
The first couple of fights I watched Jones I thought he was going to be a flash in the pan. He changed my mind in the Hamill fight, he really is as good as he seemed when I first seen him. Like someone else said above, he reminds me of King Mo’ but without the grime. I can’t wait to see him smash Vera and continue his rise in the LHW division.
He also gets brownie points for answering questions from strangers on FB. He seems to have a great personality and is very friendly.
canadians cheat and lie…whereas americans are fair and respectul in sports…--HellaHectic the funniest MF'er on Mania
I figured it out!! ANS is Jon Jones!!!
Your busted buddy!
"The Red-eyed Jedi...holds a 7th degree Black Belt in Bonghitisu"
by ItsNormlToSmokePot on Mar 6, 2010 4:09 PM EST reply actions
Took the taps from my keyboard mate! It has to be!
That said, as long as this guy doesn’t turn into the state a lot of the guys looking for career salvation at Jacksons do I will certainly be watching with great interest. Jackson has an almost prozac-like effect on fighters with ill discipline and I find it freaky. Joe Daddy, Melvin G, are the equivalent of MMA’s Stepford Wives these days. It is totally unnatural.
I think to put some perspective on this post we can consider a guy called Mauricio Rua whom at 23 took on the best and won in the most brutal org of its time. Jones has it all at his feet and could very well do the same. I actually think he has a broader skill set than Shogun but it boils down to the other disciplines of being a fighter for Jones to master. The mental aspect more specifically.
ANS, fantastic post, can I ask how you feel about my comments regarding Jacksons brainwashing effect on guys who really need it at his camp. Am I out of order?
A burning passion from a burning mass reaches up for the sky
by Shoguns Hairy Forearms. on Mar 6, 2010 6:51 PM EST up reply actions
I wish I had the phsyique of JJ
And the skills. And he is also a whole lot bigger then me. And I would be ultra conceited to write so much about myself in the 3rd person. Dont you think?
by AintNoSunshine on Mar 8, 2010 2:11 PM EST up reply actions
oh, so you're Rashad?
there's still something so unifying about sport in it's purest form, when athletes rise above themselves and touch greatness and in doing so remind us all that we also have greatness inside of us.
I agree at the moment Rob
Shoguns MT is arguably the best in his division but he hasn’t shown the diversity and invention of strikes that Jones has shown in his few fights. His boxing isn’t as strong as his MT either and he obviously recognised that in his fight with Machida.
Believe me, It took everything I had to let go of Rua’s nuts and say that but I believe this guy could be as good. He has a similar buzz about him at a similar time Shogun entered Pride. Shogun was always the underdog as people wouldn’t or couldn’t believe he’d beat the guys he was fighting even though he was showing unreal talent.
Jones is very very similar in that respect. He just needs to step up to the plate in the same way Shogun did and take on the best. Being at Jacksons may well be the key for him doing that and Vera is a great test for him.
A burning passion from a burning mass reaches up for the sky
by Shoguns Hairy Forearms. on Mar 6, 2010 7:07 PM EST reply actions
That said
Rua will always be in a class of his own IMO
A burning passion from a burning mass reaches up for the sky
by Shoguns Hairy Forearms. on Mar 6, 2010 7:10 PM EST reply actions
He is not the only potential prospect in the UFC, check out this Highlight of James Toney I came across.....If he throws a half ass ground game together and some TDD, then a few of us could be eating humble pie!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uqlz5oxknf0
"Champions are not made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them - a desire, a dream, a vision." -Muhammad Ali
Just watched it.
Humble pie doesn’t taste good at all but it does a soul good. Fortunately, I did not commit my self in the Toney case. Who knows all that can happen with a great boxer with 6 onces gloves. The question is all about his TD defense and how he will react if someone starts kicking those legs.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. - Herm Albright
I for one don't think this POS will do anything special in the UFC.
If he beats kimbo so what. Kimbo will try to stand with him and will end up on his back, predictable. Now if they put him up against a fighter that is not trying to box him then you will see Toney does not belong in the UFC. If the guy was coming in not talking all that shit then maybe I would have not be talking down on him.
But a true champion, face to face with his darkest hour, will do whatever it takes to rise above. A man fights, and fights, and then fights some more. Because surrender is death, and death is for pussies. - Kenny Powers
Does anyone know how long he's been training in MMA?
Maybe it was thought out a long time ago and Tomey actually has a more well rounded game than anyone thinks. If not, the whole thing is gonna be a big farce.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. - Herm Albright
This guy will be champ some day, no doubt about that
Its a privelege watching him do some of the shit he pulls off. You never know what you might see. Awesome!!! I look forward to every one of his fights. He is definitely one of a kind and hard to prepare for. You never know what he is gonna do. He does shit that no one has ever done, nor can anyone even anticipate or practice for.
Great post
but I have been sold since I first saw him fight in the UFC. He’s definatly something else. I love seeing the evolution of MMA. There are the top guys who seem like no one can beat then someone new comes along who totally just ups the bar and is spoken of as the new champion of the not so distant tomorrow. It’s great.
Still have to analyze Jon Jones more to express my opinion on him.
"Once Flamengo, Flamengo until die"
I Think Alot of Answers Will Be Presented
When He Fights Vera. Vera is a very good striker and has beat some tough guys. Plus Vera will be on straight desperation mode.
by AintNoSunshine on Mar 8, 2010 4:01 PM EST up reply actions
GREAT STUFF!!!
Thanks for the info you shared with us. It’s always nice to hear an insiders take on things! I too have been a believer of this kid. Amazing he is only 22!
Jone Jones
has become what Karo Parysian used to be for me. What i eman is, i used to look forward to watching Krpo fights becasue of his beautiful Judo throws and his fights were excitign because you didnt know what he was gonna do next or when his throws were coming. That is what Joens brigns aside from his great skills. Joens coems out with moves out of nowhere and connects. I look forward to his fights jsut to seewhat he will do next. The moves he had agaisnt Bonnar were jsut crazy and i cant wait to see what he does to Vera.
I can see that.
What is crazy is to see how strong and explosive this guy is vs guys bigger then him with great grappling credentials.
by AintNoSunshine on Mar 9, 2010 5:11 PM EST up reply actions
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