Jon Jones steps in for Rashad Evans in UFC championship fight against Shogun Rua
by FiveKnuckles.com Staff on February 07, 2011

Right after Jon Jones scored the biggest win of his career by submitting Ryan Bader in the second round of their UFC 126 bout at the Mandalay Bay Events Center Saturday night, he told color commentator Joe Rogan "I feel like it's my time."

He had no idea how prophetic those words would be, as UFC President Dana White offered him a shot at Mauricio "Shogun" Rua's light heavyweight title at UFC 128 in March after it was revealed that Rua's original opponent, Rashad Evans, was forced out of the bout due to knee injury.

Needless to say, Jones accepted.

"I feel great," he said. "I'm going for a world title, baby."

And after his performance against the previously unbeaten Bader, it's clear that the 12-1 Jonny "Bones" is ready for his first championship bout.

Jones looked a lot bigger than Bader as the two squared off to start the bout, and the New Yorker decided to test his foe on the mat as he scored a quick takedown. Jones, showing even more facets to his game, quickly transitioned to north-south position, where he locked in a tight choke. Bader stayed calm and eventually found his way out of danger, making it back to his feet moments later. While standing, Jones stalked his foe, and after landing with a kick, Bader shot for a takedown but was turned back. Jones followed up the stuff with ground strikes, then got the crowd into it with a leap over Bader that turned into a takedown and more ground strikes up until the bell.

Bader was tentative with his striking in round two, with Jones confidently walking forward and throwing and array of punches and kicks. As the round progressed, Bader gained confidence as he tagged Jones with a couple shots, but Jones was unfazed as he continued to mix his aggression with the presence to stop Bader's takedowns. With 1:30 left, Bader was able to pull Jones to the mat, but Jones remained on top, controlling the action. Suddenly, Jones locked in a guillotine choke, and just as quickly, Bader was forced to tap, ending the bout at the 4:20 mark.

With the win, Jones improves to 12-1; Bader falls to 13-1.

This article appears courtesy of UFC.com.

Make sure to check back with us the day of the event for free, live, round-by-round coverage of UFC 128 right here at FiveKnuckles.com! Join expert analyst Mike Williams as he takes you through the entire fight card blow-by-blow and then keep it right here for all the post-fight news and notes you can handle!

 |  (21) Comments flyangler: Jon Jones Rd 3 via arm triangle. For real. I'm guessing that Dana was saving this big announcement for either winner of the two big 205 fights but Jones put on such a clinic that he gave it to Bones without second thought. This kid is unbelievable and I can't wait to see how he handles the whole experience and Shogun, but I think he does. He is going to be one of the alltime greats. I see Jon using his tremendous reach and size advantage to then showcase hi superior wrestling skills and beat up shogun on the ground. I think this kid is so fight smart that he has unbelievable grappling defense, which he has not even showcased yet, and Shogun will not be able to sub him. Constant G-n-P will lead to a 3rd round arm triangle submission victory for Bones. Oh yeah, That leapfrog move was awesome and was going to lead to a suplex throw, but Badder is a great wrestler and defended well. If that was someone else, their ass was going for a ride. JujitsWho: His grappling defense looked like SHIT against Vera. He left sub openings all over the place! Armbars and triangles were there for the taking if Vera had pulled the trigger, but he was too gunshy. I could possibly see Bones beating Shogun with top control....MAYBE a TKO, but I would pick a UD for Bones before that....If I were to pick him that is, which I'm not. Thing is, Bones hasn't fought a striker or a legit threat on the ground yet. Shogun is BOTH. I think Jonny is such a talent, but he needed another fight before running into Rua. I said this before, and I'll stand by it now. I'm not saying he couldn't possibly win this fight, but he could have walked in as the favorite with another fight under his belt Right now, there are just too many variables for me to pick him. His chin is virtually untested, his ground game has holes that can be exploited by a savvy BJJ practitioner. And, while it makes him fun to watch, he is a bit wild. Those things make him EXTREMELY vulnerable to Rua, who is an amazing striker, and CAN make him pay for being wild. Now add Shoguns power to those strikes and we'll see just how sturdy Bones' chin is....because he IS gonna get hit in this fight....and HARD. Also, where others have been timid on the ground, Rua will not be. He WILL throw up those subs that others were too bitch-made to try. Again, this is a good fight, but I will always go with the tested and proven over the unknown D_V: He's crazy athletic but his quickness and length won't keep shogun from getting inside and killing him if they stand together. They won't though. It'll be grapple quest. It could go either way. Jones is a beast. We have never seen rua controlled, even remotely, on the ground, though. Even against top position strong juggernaut guys like Arona. rua still got up and/or swept at will. We'll see what Jones brings from the top. Mtx: This is definitely going to be a sick fight. I see both guys with legitimate chances. I'm slightly edging towards Bones for the simple fact of Shogun's knee. We do not know how he is going to come back. In all honesty its a shame that such a fighter keeps having this problems through his career. flyangler: Jits, conventional wisdom saysRua wins this fight, and I think it is very possible he does. I'm just going with a feeling I have, that Bones has IT and will handle Rua enroute to a long trun with the belt. I cant' wait. Wandering_Minstrel: This is a tough fight to call, but I think Jones hasn't really fought anyone of Shogun's abilities. I don't see JBJ giving up so I'm thinking either a TKO/SUB in the championship rounds or a UD for Shogun. GO HARD: 1st round TKO Jon Bones Jones. easy pick. and its not easy to sub someone that is crushing your skull. its mma not bjj. D_V: okay this is gettign ridiculous. GH is just being a cunt because his guy finally looked good, for the first time in years, so now he wants to talk shit about shogun. the truth is, Jones isn't even his guy. i saw jones coming before any of you fags, GH included. I actually picked him to win the bonnar fight. he doesn't know shit anyways, so it really doesn't matter what he says. his analysis, is that jones is going to do something to Rua that he was unable to do to Bader. That really means a lot. thanks for that. GO HARD: heres my predicition: Bones is gonna throw shogun on the ground and crush his skull in the first round. q; D D_V: Nope. Jones is not yours. he's a greg jackson guy and you hate those guys. you can fuck off. he's not yours at all. He'd fucking rape your boy. at leas tmy fighter has a chance and i still think Jones is favored. Silva would get positively flat lined by jones. IwishIwasMMA: Cain would rape both of them.. he could drop weight and rape Bones. Tonika Fatale: Hmmm thats going to be actaully better than the first one was lolll
HOW WILL THE THIAGO ALVES VS. MARTIN KAMPMANN FIGHT END AT UFC ON FX 2?
Alves def. Kampmann via TKO/KO
Alves def. Kampmann via submission
Alves def. Kampmann via decision
Kampmann def. Alves via TKO/KO
Kampmann def. Alves via submission
Kampmann def. Alves via decision
TAKE ANOTHER POLL!