Issue 099

March 2013

The Charles ‘Mask’ Lewis Fighter of the Year

Jon Jones’ most controversial year might have been his most successful. Four UFC light heavyweight title defenses, against four former champions, capped off with the first-ever retention of the prized Charles Lewis trophy at our World MMA Awards. History made easy?

For Jon Jones, 2013 started in much the same way as the year prior: with the UFC light heavyweight title wrapped firmly around his waist and the Fighters Only World MMA Awards trophy for ‘Fighter of the Year’ secure in his grip.

“It means a lot,” Jones said, of his second-straight ‘Fighter of the Year’ honour. “It’s definitely encouraging. It’s motivating, and it’s another goal to keep an athlete driven.

“It’s especially cool knowing that the ‘Fighter of the Year’ award is given by the fans because there are so many different styles and so many different things that make fighters likable and entertaining. It’s incredible and humbling to know that so many people voted for me.”

Things certainly didn’t come easily this time around. The 25-year-old dynamo dealt with controversy and contention throughout the voting period, yet somehow managed to soundly defeat four former UFC champions and extend his title reign. 

It started with the destruction of ‘Rampage’ Jackson at UFC 135, just days into the voting period, and quickly moved onto Toronto against game Lyoto Machida, in the headlining bout of UFC 140. The karate master’s unique movements and potent attacks always present a difficult challenge, and Jones admits it was troublesome to prepare and game plan for such an opponent. “It was challenging, but that’s what makes this sport so fantastic,” Jones says. “I knew he was a great puzzle, but I think I figured out the puzzle.” 

Machida started the fight well, moving away from Jones’ advances and leaping in with powerful counterpunches and even staggering ‘Bones’ at one point with a crisp left hand. The champion at times looked frustrated in the opening five minutes, but quickly made the necessary adjustments to battle back for a brutal second-round technical submission, latching on to a guillotine choke and squeezing until he dumped Machida’s limp frame onto the mat like a sack of potatoes. 

“I thought it was a great fight,” Jones recalls. “I did think it was a very close first round, but still to this day I believe it’s a round I won. It was just a great fight. I was excited about that challenge at that point in my career.”

Jones unknowingly also laid the groundwork for one of the UFC’s most memorable commercials of the year, entitled ‘Believe Your Eyes,’ during his exit from the cage. 

While Jones had no idea filmmaker Eric Koretz was in the building, much less focussed on his every move, the champion leaned over to kiss the forehead of a young fan who was reaching over the rail as the victorious fighter returned to his dressing room. 

Jones admits he doesn’t remember even making a conscious decision to give the youngster a once-in-a-lifetime fan moment. But he says the moments spent leaving the Octagon are always filled with unmatched emotion and a strong connection with the fans in attendance. 

“I always have this feeling of, ‘I did it; I did it for you guys again,’” he says. “It’s always that type of feeling when I’m walking out of the cage. There are all these people reaching and trying to touch your gloves. They’re just so proud of you, and I walk backstage thinking to myself, ‘I’m your guys’ warrior, and I pulled it off again for you guys. Thanks for the support.’” 

Jones’ magical moment would soon give way to extreme tension with one Rashad Evans – a former friend and training partner who at one point insisted he would never fight the champion, a man he considered to be like a brother – who was slotted as the next contender for the UFC’s light heavyweight belt. 

What followed was absolute pandemonium. In the weeks and months leading up to the fight, both fighters were inundated with media requests as interviewer after interviewer was looking for the perfect sound bite with Jones trashing Evans and vice versa. Even the UFC got in on the act, as a fight-week press conference for the event was scheduled with just the two headliners, unlike most events that feature the top four, six or even eight fighters on the card. 

It bordered on overkill at times, but Jones says the experience proved rewarding. “It was tough some days,” he admits. “But despite everything that was going on, I knew at the end of the day that it was necessary for the fight to be that way. I was just realistic about the whole situation, and it made it all easier for me. But there was definitely a lot of media coverage, and it was a whirlwind at times. Still, I’m glad I made it through it.” 

After all the build-up, Jones went out and dominated Evans for 25 minutes, earning a unanimous-decision victory with scores of 49-46, 49-46 and 50-45. Jones used straight punches and crisp elbows to pick apart his foe from distance and keep himself free from any serious threats. 

Jones and Evans seemed to bury the hatchet after battling it out in the cage, but after seeing a former training partner become a threat to his crown, the champion says he learned a few valuable lessons about opening up to potential future threats. 

“I learned to just always be careful with how much you give to people about yourself,” he reveals. “You never know about people’s intentions or what the future holds. A friend today could be a possible enemy tomorrow. You just have to be careful.  

“I also learned that I’m a strong individual. There are a lot of fighters that I think wouldn’t have been able to handle the pressure of being dragged in so many different directions and then still be able to go out there and perform at a high level. It was just reassuring to myself to know I can deal with that type of situation.” 

Jones said he and Evans haven’t spoken much since the fight. Unfortunately, he believes the relationship is damaged beyond repair, but he does feel there is less palpable uneasiness between the two. 

“Me and Rashad, I don’t think we will ever be friends, but there’s no more tension,” Jones says. “There’s no animosity.”

Jones would find himself at the center of further controversy as the year wore on. A planned bout with Dan Henderson was scratched when the former Pride and Strikeforce champion’s lingering knee injury prevented him from competing at a scheduled UFC 151 appearance.  

Chael Sonnen then agreed to take the fight on about one week’s notice, but Jones and his team decided accepting that new matchup was not a wise decision. With no main event in place, UFC officials ultimately elected to cancel the entire event. 

Jones’ decisions drew the ire of UFC president Dana White, though the fiery boss quickly changed his tune when the promotion rebooked the fighter for a UFC 152 slot opposite Vitor Belfort. 

‘The Phenom’ is, of course, a former UFC light heavyweight champion, but he never defended the belt and was busy competing in the promotion’s middleweight division when he was given the chance to move up in weight and challenge again for the 205lb title. The general public didn’t give him much of a chance, and odds makers also installed him as a 13-1 underdog, so Jones was expected to cruise to another easy win. 

Things didn’t turn out exactly as planned, and Belfort nearly pulled off one of the most incredible upset wins in UFC history when he shocked Jones with an armbar that seemed certain to win him the fight. Somehow, Jones mustered the strength and courage to survive, even though Belfort would later claim he heard several cracks and pops in the joint. 

After the fight, Jones said he was willing to let the limb break and had no plans to tap out from the painful submission. Jones admits it wasn’t an idea he had ever considered before, but when thrust into a decision, he said the moment was clear. 

“It’s not something that I had ever planned,” he states. “I usually do a pretty good job in practice of not getting put in any submissions, so I never really thought to myself that I wouldn’t tap if that time ever came. But in that situation, it just hurt so bad that I thought to myself, ‘Well, how much more could it hurt?’ I was kind of interested to see how much it would hurt. So I dealt with the pain and showed perseverance.” 

After finally pulling his arm free, Jones took control of the fight and avoided any more precarious positions en route to a fourth-round submission victory over what would ultimately prove to be a battered Belfort. 

It was perhaps shocking that such a huge underdog ultimately provided Jones with one of the scariest moments of his still-young career, but he viewed the fight as a bit of a metaphor for his entire year.

“I dealt with so much leading up to the fight with the cancellation of UFC 151 and the Chael Sonnen drama and everything else, I knew I couldn’t be weak then when I had been strong for so long. I decided to see just how strong I could be.”

It is a testament to Jones’ incredible run that the division long considered to be the most talent-rich in the sport now looks like a bit of a wasteland in terms of meaningful contenders. Downing five former champions in a row has that effect on the landscape of a weight class.  

At just 25 years old, it’s incredible to reflect on what Jones has already accomplished, and it would seem that any number of UFC records will inevitably have his name etched beneath them. 

Top sporting apparel company Nike, long known for signing athletes considered the best of the best in their field, has given Jones a global endorsement deal. He’s unquestionably one of the sport’s biggest stars, and if he remains healthy could be a force in the UFC’s light heavyweight division for another decade or more. 

Still, with fame comes a price, and a May conviction for a misdemeanor charge of driving while intoxicated proved the champion is prone to making an occasional poor choice. Jones has since moved past the incident, but his critics are always quick to bring it up when trying to tear down the MMA superstar.

Jones has come to terms with his role in the sport and understands it won’t be possible to please every MMA fan, but he insists even the haters haven’t spoiled his enjoyment of fighting. 

“Some days it feels like I don’t have a job because of how awesome of a job I have. Other days, everything feels like work,” he says. “I just live each day to its fullest and try and be positive and try to remember what got me here, and that’s just a good attitude and a good work ethic. 

“Just knowing that I haven’t really left much of a mark on the record books, that drives me. I want to really make an impact and leave a legacy. That drives me.” 

Jones will is currently featured on the 17th season of The Ultimate Fighter as a coach opposite Sonnen. The UFC and its broadcast partners are hoping the star power of the two will help boost ratings for a show that has been ailing in that department as of late. Jones also hopes the series allows fans to see a different side of him in a role as a leader and coach as well as just a man with a life outside of the cage. 

In the meantime, he will celebrate his second Fighters Only World MMA Awards ‘Fighter of the Year’ success, becoming the first two-time recipient of the honor. The enormity of the accomplishment isn’t lost on the talented fighter, who is already well on his way to a Hall-of-Fame-worthy career. 

Jones adds: “It’s really cool to know that the fans appreciate my work, especially knowing how well other people have performed this year. There are just so many amazing fighters who compete consistently at a very high level. For the fans to have even an ounce more of appreciation for my work than some of those other guys is just really gratifying.”