Jon Jones says attempting to harm Rashad Evans will be "kind of trippy"
Posted on March 7, 2012, 12:56 PM by Joey Santosus
"I know Rashad, and I know his reactions. It'll be kind of trippy fighting a friend of mine - well, a former friend of mine - with bad intentions. ... You spar against teammates all the time, and you never go for a move that could really hurt them. But to fight someone I've sparred against so many times - and to actually let go of those elbows and let go of those knees and head kicks and things for the first time - that might be a little different. But I'm not an emotional fighter for the most part anyway.
I really can't say that (Evans will be my toughest opponent yet). Every opponent is potentially my toughest opponent. They all have different gifts and different tools. It's hard to say if he'll be the toughest. They're all extremely tough (at this level). ... In some ways, though, some things are more important. This one is all the marbles. It's for who's the better fighter between the two of us." - For more from Jon Jones, visit MMAJunkie.com
Known for vicious elbow attacks, spinning back fists, and flying knees, Jon Jones appears to throw each of his strikes with bad intentions - against Rashad Evans, however, things might be "a little different."
Set to meet at UFC 145, "Bones" will put his Light Heavyweight title on the line when he meets Evans in the headlining bout. At just 24-years of age, Jones has finished 13 of his 16 professional opponents, which includes a list of top contenders, former champions, and respected veterans - but none have been former teammates.
Once a member of the famed Jackson's MMA team in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Evans cut ties with the camp after Jones went on record stating that he would be open to fighting "Suga." Though Jones admits that the thought of unleashing his harm-inducing arsenal on a man he once considered a friend is "kind of trippy," he says emotion has little impact on him as a fighter. But, what do you think LowKick'ers? Can Jones overlook the past to put away his former training partner, or will Evans use emotion to better "Bones" in Atlanta?
Further Reading: Jon Jones: Rampage Jackson prepared me for Rashad Evans' trash talk
Photo: Francis Specker
Comments
I like Rashad . He is a funny guy. I think he is fast nd powerful enough to catch Jones at some point in the fight and have the opportunity to finish. The only condition is that he can survive jones attemps to finish him first. :S
I diislike Jones but he is more skilled. The thing that can save Rashad is his hand speed and power
all I'm saying is Jones already faced machida and if machida could pull off that same tactic what makes you think rashad can....must I remind you of the stanky leg
sounds kinda weak, im sure Rashad is gonna be happy to punch you in the face dude.
i dunno why i see rashad actually surprising everyone in this fight... while he's no anderson silva on the feet, i think if he does catch jones, it could wobble him n who knows what happens from there, i also this rashad's wrestling is good enough to take down jones without any real problems, phil davis is much more highly decorated wrestler, and rashad did exactly what he said he would, outwrestle him. (i personally didnt believe it would happen, until it did)... so, I go for jones via ko or sub, if not, rashad decision. Yup, crazy, i know.
It's not too crazy. I too was very surprised by Evans' performance against Davis. I expected him to win, but not to own him as soundly as he did. In that fight, he showed his full arsenal with speed he used to get inside Davis' reach, excellent calculated offense, great defense against kicks, top notch wrestling, and great cardio. All of these things will be necessary to beat Jones.
The thing that impressed me the most though was an attribute many fighters (or many people for that matter) lack: patience. Davis fought conservatively used his reach and attacked from the outside. He honestly didn't make that many mistakes, but when he did, he was taken down and beaten severely. It will be this characteristic more than any other that I think will determine the outcome of the fight. Jones' game isn't perfect, and he will leave a few openings. When he does, will Rashad be able to take full advantage, as he did against Davis?
I hope he isnt as unsure of himself as this makes him sound. If he goes in there and hesitates or freezes, Rashad will take full advantage. Rashad has enough experience to see a small mistake and capitalize. Hopefully Jones comes prepared, for his own sake.
He just prepare an excuse in advance
I know how he feels, it is weird beating the crap out of someone you once respected and treated like a brother until all this shit hit the fan..
hope jones get knocked out....
Here is someone who hasn't a clue what "trippy" really means, or where it came from...and he would call the cops if he ever found out.
Jon, when you find yourself fighting a giant, talking white rabbit with kalaidoscope eyes and the octagon canvas is rippling with waves and you can smell the color green---that might be called 'trippy'--fighting a former sparring partner/friend does not qualify.
Jon Jones said you're a "CHODEmaster."
You missed the meaning of "trippy" in this instance. By "trippy" he means disorienting and strange. Odd choice of words, but it applies. What you are talking about is "tripping". Big difference.
Trippin came from the 60's during the hippie era, it was used to describe the feeling they get while doing ACID, LSD.
Trippy is also derived from the word trippin, it also describes the feeling of being on acid or LSD.
People who are so clean they squeek when they walk use it as Jon Jones used it(without full knowledge)
Trippy can be used whenever anything is unusual enough to elicit disbelief. If you can say, "I can't believe this is happening", you can describe the circumstance as trippy. If Jones has strong memories of Rashad being his friend and mentoring him, thinking they'd never fight each other, then I think the usage is appropriate.
I think a Jon Jones who is a little unsure of himself is much more dangerous than a Jon Jones who is over-confident.
I'm pretty sure a Jon Jones is dangerous, regardless of the situation.
True.
Goodnigggggggggggght...Rashad! After this fight with Jon his new name will be Lights Out Rashad! I predict severe brain damage for Rashad...much more damage than he was born with that is?!?!
You know, I think a lot of this comes down to how good of an actor Jones is. In the Atlanta presser, he actually seemed genuinely distressed a couple of times about losing the friendship with Rashad, so the question becomes whether THAT was the act to maybe try to get Rashad to feel sorry for/go easy on him or whether the tough guy, "Oh, he's ruining my moment," spiel is the act and he's actually sincerely regretting the loss of that friendship.
If he's REALLY regretting the loss of Rashad as a friend, he very well may go into that fight without his head 100% in the game, and that could lead to a very surprising night for Jones and the fans in Atlanta. If, on the other hand, he's just trying to get Rashad's guard down with these comments, and he comes in at 100%, I think Rashad is going to put up a good fight, but I think he's ultimately going to come up wanting against the king of LHW.
Either way, I can't wait to see the fight. This is going to be the first "numbered" UFC event I've actually gotten to attend. I got to go to Fight Night: Florian v Gomi back in 2010, and that was awesome enough, but this is just going to be epic!