Issue 151

February 2017

At the UFC 128: Jon Jones TKO 3 Mauricio Rua, its youngest champion is crowned and a superstar is born.

After stepping in with just five weeks’ notice, replacing teammate Rashad Evans in New Jersey, 23-year-old Jon Jones produced an absolute masterclass to end the reign of ‘Shogun’ Rua in March 2011 and signal the arrival of the next generation of mixed martial artist.

‘Bones’ hurt the champion in the opening round with a flying knee and never looked back, beating Rua from pillar to post until Herb Dean had no choice but to stop things midway through the third round.

Jones had destroyed a legend, made history as the youngest UFC champion and began a period of dominance the light heavyweight class had never experienced before.

THE FUTURE HAS ARRIVED

Color commentator Joe Rogan couldn’t help but wax lyrical in the aftermath of the fight. “That, ladies and gentlemen, is the future. He is the present and he is the future. He might be the greatest talent we have ever seen in the UFC,” he said.

STEP 1

Rua forces Jones to the mat and attempts a heel hook but the challenger reverses the position and attempts a kimura, before driving Shogun onto his back.

STEP 2

Jones dominates from top position, repeatedly landing strikes onto Rua’s chin from inside his guard before unleashing a salvo of hard left elbows as the Brazilian turns away.

STEP 3

Rua manages to scramble to his feet but he’s driven back against fence, where Jones dishes out a vicious left hook to the body and right knee as Rua crumbles to finish him off.