Issue 107

November 2013

The history of mixed martial arts retold through the pages of the FO archives. November 2008: Jon Jones’ UFC title reign is responsible for the 26-year-old’s self-belief, not the other way around.

It’s hard to know if UFC light heavyweight Jon Jones was just being modest, or whether he really had no idea how dominant a fighter he would become.

“We are in the same weight class so eventually I may fight him one day,” said ‘Bones’ of the prospect of fighting pre-middleweight Pride great Wanderlei Silva, in 2008’s November issue of Fighters Only. “I just hope to be at his level when the time comes.”

Jones had just made a victorious UFC debut and was less than seven months removed from his very first MMA contest. About two years and four months later he would become the youngest person to ever win a UFC title. And he did it the hard way in beating Silva’s longtime training partner, ‘Shogun’ Rua, the Muay Thai machine many believed to be better than Wanderlei even at his peak. Jones put five imperious 205lb title defenses together after that, tying Tito Ortiz’s record. In less than five years he has most certainly reached Silva’s level.

While back then Jones sounded as though he had little confidence in his potential, the 26-year-old New Yorker has proven himself deeply talented. And it’s hard to imagine him having anything but unerring faith in his capabilities. He’s proven in the ring and on the microphone he has faith today. He even told Comcast prior to his 2012 decision over Rashad Evans: “I’m extremely confident. I do believe my own hype. And I’m working towards making it true.”

While that kind of Jones rhetoric is a significant departure from 2008, it must be hard to keep your feet on the ground when you have outstruck, overwhelmed and choked out a clutch of ex UFC kings with little bother.

And there’s a clue to how he achieved that in the ’08 issue of FO. In our exclusive 2008 interview with the future champion (long before anyone else was dedicating ink and inches to the fast-learning wrestler) he unknowingly hinted at the foundation for his championship reign.

“I wasn’t really expecting to get a KO in my first fight,” said Jones, “because I never considered myself a powerful guy. I always had to use skill and technique to be successful.” Which just goes to show that for all his self-promoting hyperbole, there is a student of the martial arts continuously and consciously building his abilities in the gym.

“I used to love to watch Wanderlei Silva’s fights,” Jones told FO five years ago. “He throws these wild kicks and isn’t afraid to mix it up. I wonder what his work ethic must be and what an incredible mind state he must have to not fear anyone his age. I would like to have a similar story to him.”

Having iced a line-up of former champions with supreme self-assurance, it seems he already does.

NOSTRADAMMAUS: A SILVA LINING

‘Hubris’ has become everyone’s favorite word to describe the reason for Anderson Silva’s knockout downfall against Chris Weidman at UFC 162. Hands down and more mime than fighter? He was just too cocky. On the November 2008 issue’s Fighter Facts page we praised Silva for being “humble, extremely motivated, ruthless, personable, talented and always a pleasure to watch.” Adding: “Silva inspires the audience as much as he intimidates the opposition.” When you think about it, you could argue we predicted his defeat; a slackening in those very areas ultimately led to his title loss. We’re right even when we’re wrong.

ELSEWHERE IN THE NOVEMBER 2008 ISSUE

LONDON CALLING

Our cover star in November 2008 was then-recently dethroned UFC light heavyweight champion ‘Rampage’ Jackson. We spoke to him about relocating to the UK and joining Britain’s leading gym, Wolfslair. “I see a lot of talent there. I see the UK fighters coming to America and putting on a good show. There are a lot of guys coming out of the Wolfslair – the UK is going to step up in the MMA world.” He was right on the money

RUMBLE WEIGHT

In 2008, Anthony Johnson was a welterweight. Several factors, not least his often inability to make the 170lb threshold, had Johnson dropped from the UFC and ultimately end up fighting at 205lb and higher in recent times. And, having reread the November 2008 issue we think we may know why: gummy bears. When asked what he keeps in his gymbag, he told us: “When it comes to nutrition my favorite source is gummy bears. I eat them for nutrition. What can I say? They are too good; I love gummy bears.”

MONEY WARS

We mentioned back in our November ’08 issue how current Bellator fighter War Machine was complaining about UFC fighter pay. He’s still not happy. He recently made his thoughts known on both UFC checks and the decrease in money sponsors are willing to pay out.