Bones title defences
 

Sorry, I'm very drunk due to free beer. This is my attempt to break down Bones title defences.


Rua
Pros: Champion. Great win over Machida before fight. Can be argued he deserved a draw with Henderson and a win in the first Machida fight.

Cons: Injured / long layoff before the fight with a 5-5 record since joining the UFC. These include a lost to Forrest, being dominated by Gustafsson in his last fight, and the rest of his wins (bar Machida) coming over gatekeepers and old men.

7.5/10

Quinton Jackson
Pros: Comming off 2 win running streak including a win over Machida. Ex title holder.

Cons: 2-3 in last 5 fights, Got gift against Machida so should really be 1-4 with his only win coming over Hamill. Lost to Badger after Jones bout.

6/10

Machida
Pros: Probably toughest style for Jones. Coming off win over Couture, should have got nod over Jackson. Looked good in next fight. Ex champion.

Cons: 3-3 in last 6 fights. Lost to an old Jackson.

8.5/10

Evans
Pros: had four fight winning streak. Just beat top contender. Ex title holder.

Cons: Doesn't have a great win on his resume.

7/10

Victor Belfort
Pros: Ex champion in two divisions. Beat Bisping in fight after.

Cons: Came up in wieght, didn't deserve shot.

7/10

Where do you rank his run on a ATG list. Better than Rua's Pride run? Is Bones overrated or does he deserve his ranking?

Re: Bones title defences
 

Jones/Rua is, at least, a 9. Shogun's the greatest fighter Jones has beaten thus far, and Jones utilized all facets of MMA in that fight.

Re: Bones title defences
 

You consider the Vitor defence to be of the same quality as the Rashad defence? No way.

Re: Bones title defences
 

I kinda want to rank him as the best LHW in history. A bit on the fence about it. He doesn't just beat great fighters; he dominates them. This is a big reason why I'd have him ahead of Rua if a gun was put to my head. My opinion may or may not change if Cormier obliterates Jones, which is very, very possible.

Re: Bones title defences
 

If I had to give ratings: Jon Jones vs

- Mauricio Rua (9-10). We haven't see a better LHW since (other than Jones, himself.)
- Lyoto Machida 8.5-9). Machida gave Jones some trouble early on. Jones almost puts him away with that choke early because he didn't want to get eventually caught by Machida. Still proves Jones can end a guy as great as Machida's night -- whenever he ****ing wants.
-Rashad Evans (8-8.5). Evans, I believe, has an undervalued legacy and although Jones' win over him wasn't very spectacular -- once he beat Evans -- you just think to yourself "whose left at 205 to challenge this guy?"
- Belfort, Jackson (6-7.5?). But can't give him a 60 - cause wouldnt that mean he failed? Who honestly ****ing cares. Doing this on the iPhone sucks.

What do y'all think, brethren?

Re: Bones title defences
 

Since I believe Rua is Jones' greatest defense -- I'm using that as the benchmark. YUH FEEL ME???

Re: Bones title defences
 

He won the belt off of Rua, so it wasn't a defence.

Re: Bones title defences
 

Beat me to it.

Unless he won the title against Ryan Bader. :lol:

Re: Bones title defences
 

isnt the nature of mma that you can point out negatives on just about anyone....almost no on is undefeated who has actually fought good guys...most guys are specialists in some area who have weaknesses in others..you could nitpick everyone in mma

Re: Bones title defences
 

Floyd, that's obviously true. :(

Re: Bones title defences
 

If we are judging Jones' title defence's , I think the nature in which he defeated all those opponents should also be taken into consideration - ie, he ****ing demolished them all. With the exception of Bonnar , who , last fight excluded, is usually one of the most durable fighters in the UFC, and Rashad, who could be considered a bit of a decision specialist, he has absolutely dominated them all and finished them convincingly. Nobody has totally dominated Rua , the way Jones did, no other fighter has submitted Machida in such a brutal fashion, etc etc .....:deal

There is no doubting Jones' superiority over his challengers at LHW, he makes the title contenders look like gate keepers, but there is also no disputing the fact that his natural physical attributes give him HUGE advantages over his opponents - the reach advantage he has over the other fighters at LHW is just ridiculous, almost to a point where it seems unfair on the other fighters. Which is why I , and a large number of fans are so keen for him to move up to heavy weight, so we can find out if he can be as successful in a division in which he cannot rely on his stretch armstrong reach, to help him win fights, as his opponents will be of a more equal stature.

Basically, I would like to see him fight someone his own size :bbb

Re: Bones title defences
 

I was very drunk when I wrote it. Rashad 7.5 and Belfort 7 is probably more realistic.

I probably underrated the Rua win. 8 I think would be fair due to the long lay off and the injury before the fight. Plus the fact that he just got dominated by Gustafsson brings the score down a bit.

Had it been a prime Rua I would agree. Maybe I should give a higher score due to the way Jones dominated but I can't see it over 8.5 max. 9-10 are for beating other ATG's in thier prime.

Re: Bones title defences
 

You should get very drunk more often as this was a quality thread. Loved the bit about this guy


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Re: Bones title defences
 

Machida and Evans are the only legit fighters, the others are hasbeens.

Re: Bones title defences
 

I was thinking of doing a GSP and a A.Silva analysis so any advice on what are his best / worst wins would be great.