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educated thugs, the one who claims to be a descendent of the Vikings, the other one who says he’s descended from an ancient line of samurai (he also drinks his own urine). There’s the classy ones who bow and kneel at each other’s feet before or after pummelling them with techniques such as “Stand and Bang” or “Ground and Pound” or the dreaded “Raining Elbows”. There are the pure psychotics who would rather have their arms broken than tap out, who want to continue fighting even though the cut above their eyes has covered them in blood from head to toe and then there’s the nicknames The American Pyscho, The Axe Murderer, The Irish Hand Grenade (ok that one’s a bit silly). Perhaps the most fascinating phenomenon in the short 19 year history of the UFC, is the fact that it has a solid track record of producing the most captivating and mesmerising warriors who simply seem to be from another planet. The first was Hall of Famer Royce Gracie who fought in the first UFC events and although looking like a small weedy carpet cleaner, went on to dominate tournament after tournament, showing the world that skilled Brazillian Ju-Jitsu could dominate opponents who were considerably stronger, bigger and outwardly more aggressive than the shy and demure Gracie.
Another was the aptly titled Captain America Randy Couture who showed the world he was not only capable of winning and defending the championship belt in two different weight classes, but could also mix it up with the most dangerous savages on the planet at the ripe old age of 47. Passing on from Randy to become the next freak show was Anderson “The Spider” Silva. Tall, smooth and unassuming, the Brazilian, who until a recent five round war with Chael Sonnen in his last title defence, simply seemed untouchable by mortal hands. Now enter the phenom of the new era, the freak show to top all freak shows, the super athlete with a reach longer than Abraham Lincoln and devastating theatrical moves that make Jackie Chan look like Jackie Gleason: this man is Jon “Bones” Jones. Jon is something out of a martial arts film and he’s got moves inside the ring that Van Damme had to duck in Kickboxer and Bloodsport. Spinning elbows, flying knees, whirling back kicks and frontal face kicks to name a few. All of which are delivered in split seconds with devastating accuracy. He’s very tall, very well educated, values his family immensely and has Bible verses tattooed across his body. He’s the world Champion with a 15 and 1 record who has consistently beaten the best on the planet
and has never been taken down to the canvas by another opponent in his entire career inside the octagon. Oh and he’s 24.
How Did it Happen? Jon started his mixed martial arts career at the tender age of 20 and quickly rose to prominence amassing a 6 and 0 record within three months. His record brought him to the attention of the UFC match makers who quickly pitted him against three very strong opponents whom Jones subsequently destroyed with relative ease. The UFC illuminati began to suspect Jones was ready to be tested further in what would either be career-ending or careermaking match-ups for the rising star. He was placed inside the octagon with the Soviet wrestling champion Vladimir Matyushenko who was a Belarusian mixed martial artist creepily nicknamed The Janitor. Jon dismantled The Janitor’s face with a collection of howling elbows and asserted himself, particularly in the eyes of UFC president, Dana White, as being one of the best fighters in the world. Jon would then fight and dispatch one more formidable opponent in Ryan Bader before being given a shot at the Light Heavy Weight ▶
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