Shots fired!
After Jon Jones won the light heavyweight championship by defeating Mauricio Rua at UFC 128, he was booked to square off against Rashad Evans at UFC 133 on Aug. 6.
That fell through when "Bones" had to pull out due to an injured thumb that he apparently needed surgery on. Only it later turned out he didn't need surgery, a fact that only came to light once "Suga" was already matched up with a replacement.
Naturally, this led to Evans claiming Jones was ducking him. But oh how the tables have turned.
Now that Rashad has defeated his UFC 133 challenger and Jones won his first title defense against Quinton Jackson this past Sept. 24, the UFC attempted to set up their fight once again for UFC 140 on Dec. 10 in Toronto.
This time, it was Evans who was forced to pull out with an injury. And now it's Jones' turn to make some ducking accusations, as told to MMA Fighting.
"Well, Dana White basically needed someone to save 140. I didn't necessarily want to fight at 140, but because it was Rashad, I said, You know what? I would take the fight in nine weeks. I'm already in shape. I already know what I want to do. Rashad, predicting that I would say no, he kind of kicked himself in the butt because I said yes, he turns around and says, Oh, I didn't expect Jon to say yes. I don't want to fight him that soon. So in reality, he's kind of the one who's ducking the fight. I feel like he's ducking the fight. ... He's tried to call me out on nine weeks notice. Obviously, who wants to fight on nine weeks notice? I just got a new car, I want to drive that around. I want to hang out with my family and relax and sleep in my own bed for once. And now Rashad calls me out, predicting that I would say no, to make me look like I was ducking him again, and I say yes, and now he says, Oh, I didn't know he would say yes. I don't want to fight him. He called Dana White, asked for 140, Dana White called me and said Rashad wants this fight. I gave him the fight he wanted and then he pulled out."
And the war continues in every venue possible ... except the Octagon.
Jones' time will now be almost completely occupied with preparing for Lyoto Machida, who he'll take on in nine weeks time on Dec. 10 in his second title defense.
It's a formidable test for the 24-year-old champion and one that, if he passes, will surely usher in a new era in the light heavyweight division.
If he hasn't already.
That means Evans will have to become an afterthought ... for now. But that doesn't mean the bad blood between former friends and training partners will go away any time soon.
As for Jones' claims, do you believe him? Is Evans really ducking the champion now instead of the other way around?
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