After a long delay between numbered PPV shows, we get one of the best hyped fights in recent memory this weekend. Jon Jones and Rashad Evans is an easy story to tell. Once friends, now enemies, they’ll fight for ultimate bragging rights over who is the better fighter.
Evans calls Jones fake. Jones says he’s the champ and Rashad is just jealous. And Greg Jackson is Miss Elizabeth. Sorry, I was reminiscing. Jones and Evans may have never had a special handshake or called themselves the Mega Powers, but they’ll surely have an explosive fight come Saturday night.
The FGB crew along with Stevie J from Angrymarks and friend of the site JP, give their prediction for the championship fight.
Rashad Evans vs. Jon Jones
Alan: Jones by 4th round TKO
Duan: Jones by decision
Stevie: Jones by 2nd round submission
JP: Jones by 3rd round submission
Big D: Jones by 3rd round submission
Cactus Jim: Jones by decision
GG: Jones by decision
Alan says:
The best thing I can say about Evans vs. Jones is that this is the first UFC match in ages that I’ve found myself thinking about during periods were my brain goes drifting off in work. Normally that space is reserved for pro wrestling or deciding what I’ll have for dinner. Through the really great build-up shows, the characters, the story and the fact that I think the fight itself is really really interesting (something a lot of people are looking past due to how interesting the story surrounding it is), this bout has become something I’m really excited for. Picking a winner here is really difficult. The main reason for this is that one of the biggest factors here is also one of the biggest unknowns – that being how well does Rashad know Jones’ game? Has Rashad got the inside scoop to answer the Jones puzzle that the likes of Shogun, Jackson and Machida didn’t have? You could say that it goes in both directions but Jones was a young fighter when he started training with Rashad, and Evans was well-seasoned. He was probably able to read a lot more about Jones in their time together than Jones was about him. That’s just the nature of being experienced. Then again, Jones has Greg Jackson in his ear and if anyone knows Rashad it’s him so maybe it will work both ways.
Another big factor in the fight will be Jones’ crazy reach and how Rashad can deal with it. He’s probably well used to having to get inside on the gangly champion, so it could be something he can take out of Jones’ game. Wrestling wise I think it’s a wash and don’t see either guy having their way with the other. I would like Rashad to get this done, however see it ending up like an extended version of the Machida fight where he’ll have a lot of success early but Jones will dig down and outclass him eventually.
Duan says:
Whether they would admit it or not, I imagine these two respect each others’ wrestling bases, and because of that they will both probably favour a striking battle. If it’s fought on the outside, Jones takes Evans apart. At close range, it becomes an interesting fight.
On the feet Jones is unorthodox, but not unflawed. In a technical sense, he’s prone to mistakes. He overextends on shots, he leaves himself open when striking, and his chin is out there begging to be whacked. Here’s the problem though; he does all those things in every fight and he’s still essentially unbeaten.
Now, if I was looking for somebody to exploit those weaknesses, I would pick a fighter with a very traditional stand up game like a Rashad Evans – technically solid, good movement, quick with the hands, and the type of power to change a fight. Most importantly though, he’s patient and he’s durable. He can wait for that mistake to come, and when it does, he will get his shot to turn Jones over.
The simple truth though is that those big one hit KOs on Rashad’s record have not come against top level opposition. WAIT….I know what you are about to say…and no, Chuck Liddell was not a world class light heavyweight when Evans iced him. Rashad becomes a point scorer in tight fights, and he can’t win this one that way. He may outscore Jones in bursts when he finds his range. I just don’t see him doing it frequently enough to pick up rounds. He’s giving up too much physically to a bigger, younger and more athletic fighter.
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