The Numbers Behind Jon Jones' UFC 135 Brilliance
Posted on September 26, 2011, 10:03 AM by Anton GurevichLast weekend, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon "Bones" Jones proved one and for all he's one of the greatest fighters to ever step foot inside the Octagon.
Jones dominated Quinton Jackson during three rounds, before finishing the contest via a neck-crunching Rear Naked Choke, early in Round 4. One of the most spectacular things about Jon Jones' performance was the way he adapted to Jackson's style by using kicks and clinch work to frustrate one of the most dominant Light Heavyweights in the history of Mixed Martial Arts. According to FightMetric, 35 of Jon Jones' strikes were leg kicks, similar to Forrest Griffin's UFC 86 gameplan that included the same dosage of abuse on Jackson's legs.
In addition, CompuStrike.com reports that Jones landed 66 total strikes to Rampage's 23. One month ago, Anderson Silva outlanded Yushin Okami 43-18 at UFC 134 in Rio de Janeiro. Jon Jones' dominance reminded the taste of Anderson Silva's recent performances inside the Octagon. Unorthodox style in combination with laser-sharp accuracy make Jon Jones an unstoppable fighter, and more than a worthy challenge (at least on paper) for the currently unbeatable humiliation machine named Anderson "The Spider" Silva.
More than anything, Jon Jones proved his maturity in a fight with Rampage Jackson. Smart gameplan and patience during the fight are all qualities of a great fighter. Jones lost the trash-talking contest to Rampage, but responded well inside the cage. There are dozens of A+ class athletes from Badminton to Soccer who choke under pressure, as only a few, those who are truly considered the best, step up to the occasion and prove their worth inside the cage, ring, football pitch, or tennis court. Jon Jones proved he belongs to that elite.
Full Jones vs. Rampage FightMetric Report | Exclusive Heavy.com UFC 135 Photo Gallery
Comments
Fightmetric is retarded. It never makes any sense. the griffin vs jackson and jones vs jackson were two totally different types of fight not even comparable in my opinion. only similarities are they both where successful with kicks and they both won end of story.
that statement make no sense because his management had someone spying so they could gain some sort of edge in the fight. it wasn't Rampage being paranoid or making shit up there really was a spy.
Incredible how you dump trucks refuse to realize that the Young Black & Confident Bones is unstoppable at this point & will be keeping the belt for a long time. If he was white, he would be praised but he's not, just like our Middleweight Champ who you bisexual misfits hate on also. What's up Sho'nuff,
& tjsad13...find a life you 250 comment a day hate'n virgin
i think everbody needs to hop off bones jones nuts!! he's nothing special
You really just made it about race? Wow. You sir, are a retard.
Yeah you noticed that too? A lot of people have that habit, they have prejudices against black and it just comes out the way they talk about him. But again if they don't specifically say something racist means it's not the reason they don't like him.
Why hasnt any Lowkick staff members banned your IP address yet... Go to 4chan where you belong
Get over yourself, why does he have to be YOUNG BLACK & CONFIDENT? Why isn't he just young and confident? Cause you sir, are the racist POS, I'm willing to bet that 95% of white people, do not think along your lines, they see him as ****y arrogant, and fake. THOSE are the reasons he's not liked, not because he's black, ya jackass.
Anderson has everyone slobbering on his nuts, black white asian blue n green, so wtf are you even talking about? EVEN fighters who are righty next to him in p4p like GSP, say nothing but good things about him, the only person I can think of who doesn't, is Chael. So again, get over it, no one chopped off your foot for running away from the plantation, and im pretty sure your mama and grandma and great grandma also did not suffer this fate, 10 generations ago you had some family who was unfortunately, enslaved, but, there were a lot of things back then that were different.. you dont see asians crying about being locked up after pearl harbour do you? you know why? Cause it happened, it sucked, but it's the past, and they know it, so f-off you entitled piece of crap. You never see a white guy say 'oh everyone's hating chael cause he's white..' nope, it's cause we know he's an a-hole. maybe you should reflect a litle on jones and come to the same conclusion. Word to ya mutha
Wow all this brilliant performance and elite level striking.....
the guy spammed knee/shin strikes..... His flashy moves didnt land except maybe for one spinning back elbow. Rampage blocked tons of strikes.
Jones spammed knee strikes until Rampage could barely stand.
Way to use joint manipulation jones.
Cant wait until someone takes out jones so this mass tip riding ends.
Spamming? lol you've been playing too many fighting games buddy.
'Spamming' punches against Rampage is probably gonna get you banged clean out ala Wand or Chuck.
So Jones's 'spamming' Knees/kicks seem like the smart gameplan ala Griffin/Wand I and II/Shogun.
I would say I havent played enough fighting games
I would say the number of high kicks, low kicks and low teep kicks to the knee that stopped rampage from even wanting to step foward into range was a brilliant performance with elite level striking and not 'spamming'.
I dont see it as elite striking. I see it as smart game plan and doing questionably legal strikes (knee strikes). Elite striking would be throwing combinations and being able to slip punches. If I had mile long legs I could kick peoples' knees and be nowhere near being threatened with strikes too.....I wouldnt be considered elite still
There is nothing illegal about those kicks at all, just not a lot of people use them because it's quite easy to telegraph for takedown, but as Rampage showed no interest in taking him down Jones used them more and more.
In what way are strikes the knees, which you refered to as joint manipulation different to joint manipulation submissions which are perfectly legal. I'm not trying to just contradict everything you say but to keep one the sports best stand-up fighters at a comfortable reach through kicks showcases some pretty elite striking. Jones being tall and having a huge reach advantage doesn't make him an elite striker, Jones knowing how to use that reach effectively to strike powerfully and yet stay out of harm makes him an elite striker. Your point that if you had mile long legs, you could do the same? Why aren't Stefan Struve or Antonio Silva dominating their division, they both have extremely long legs and reach advantage. I agree Jones' reach is a huge advantage but throwing combinations in this fight would have allowed Rampage the close the distance, throw those shielded hooks and possibly win the fight. Throwing combinations doesn't make you an elite striker in my opinion, damaging your opponent while taking minimal damage back does.
Not one strike thrown that entire fight was "questionably legal".
You're grasping.
Im not grasping, like I have said either here, or on some other jones related topic. Its my personal opinion. I find it questionablly legal, and thats it.
I find it cheap, others may not find it cheap but its my own personal opinion
It's "small joint" manipulation that's illegal in MMA, the knees are perfectly legal targets for striking.
I've tried to like Jones ... I really have! But the guy seems so fake and ****y. I'd love to see some1 smash him
the blanked out word is c0cky
Jon Jones is going to be just fine whether you like him or not.
oh is he!?!? I was under the impression that if I disliked him his career would be over ... your a tool
running away and leg kicks are rampage's weakness
Kinda makes you wonder how he took the decision against Machida then.
I can't understand why people are still doubting Jones saying he beat an 'injured' shogan or a 'one dimensional' boxer in Rampage. I admit his over-the-top humble attitude is annoying but he has beaten two of the divisons elite in his last fights without looking remotely in danger. As much as people seem to hate him, doubting his talent for stupid reasons such as he utilising leg kicks instead of trading punches with rampage is delusional.
Yeah and he's gonna keep destroing "old" and "injured" and "one dimensional" and "too short" and "too slow" and anything other excuse you can find for his opponents.
How'd Rampage do?
http://i51.tinypic.com/20fzuiw.jpg
Jones has exceptional athleticism and perfect striking geometry. But he is far from an elite striker. Those knee stomp kicks should be illegal. Far more dangerous than an upkick from guard or the elbow jones was dq'd for. Did anyone think it would end any different? He has a lot of tough fights ahead of him.
I don't see why they should be illegal though, they do hyper extend the knee joint but so does a knee bar? Plus normal low kicks can bend the knee sideways beyond its range of motion so at what point do you distinguish an 'illegal' kick from from a 'legal' kick...
A normal low kick will not break the knee as it is allowed to bend. A stomp kick to the front can do more than hyper extend it will actually break your leg, tear your mcl and ACL and destroy your meniscus.
A knee bar allows you to tap before it gets hyperextended. A kick does not.
Yeah fair points. Im undecided on whether they should be illegal or not, I just think it would be a hard rule to bring in, push/teep kicks are allowed except to the knees. Would just be a very grey area for referees I think
A front kick toward the knee is a gift-wrapped single-leg takedown to a skilled wrestler. It's not Jones' fault that Rampage isn't as well rounded as him.
Not really. A stomp kick is pretty obvious and different than a teep or push kick. It's used to diagnally attack the knee in a downward back motion. I really don't care if they are illegal or not it's just the contradiction of "safety". It's a pretty devastating attack. More so than most other attacks. Be fine with pride rules I guess but in the ufc you can't kick the face of an opponent in your guard (like silva okami 1) but you can dive bomb with your fist, or stomp a knee?
Those pushkicks too the knee should be illegal the risk getting injured is too high when the guy is throwing right punch and kick comes at the same time all the pressure comes in the front legs knee. Personally hate them... Jon Jones is a great fighter and used good tactics and techniques to win the fight that were my original comment but read so much about ''knee strikes''