You know that whole Jon Jones vs. Glover Teixeira fight people were talking about?
I'm over it.
Jones defended his light heavyweight title for a record-breaking sixth time by outpointing Alexander Gustafsson in the main event of the UFC 165 pay-per-view (PPV), which took place on Saturday night (Sept. 21, 2013) at the Air Canada Center in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Not that you could tell by looking at his mangled mug.
"The Mauler" was the first mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter to ever get Jones to the ground and dished out more damage across their five-round championship fight than any other title challenger to date. Heck, maybe even combined. Despite one idiotic score of 49-46, the decision was razor close.
Close enough to demand an immediate rematch.
Teixeira has earned a title shot and he'll most likely receive it, but that's only because UFC didn't realize they were getting a competitive contest, which is probably why it was promoted with silly gimmicks like exploding heads. Instead, fans actually ended up with what UFC color commentator Joe Rogan referred to as "the greatest light heavyweight title fight of all time."
Hard to say otherwise.
"Bones" has been unbreakable since his UFC debut over five years ago, but Gustafsson outboxed him, as well as out-wrestled him. Jones landed a couple of deadly elbows that changed the tempo of the fight in the fourth round, but it was the first time we've ever seen the champion look mortal.
You can even make the argument that he lost.
Regardless, the record books will reflect a "W," even if some fans don't believe he earned it. I'm sure there is a part of him and his "warrior spirit" that wants to follow this tagline and "leave no doubt," just as Gustafsson would surely like to show the world it wasn't a fluke.
And immediate rematches -- which put contenders in limbo -- are not uncommon.
Besides, what else is going on in the 205-pound division that can't wait? While it wouldn't be his first choice, Teixeira has already offered to take another fight to stay busy. Outside of the 22-2 Brazilian, there's not much to choose from in the way of future title fights.
Unless, of course, we crowned a new champion.
They would have laughed you out of the building if you talked like that before the event. But now, it doesn't sound so off-the-wall. Neither does "Jones vs. Gustafsson 2" in the main event of the UFC's Super Bowl Weekend fight card next February in New Jersey.
Who wants it?
For complete UFC 165 results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here.