Jones vs. Evans: Epic Win Will Bring Jon Jones One Step Closer to Greatness

UFC star Jon "Bones" Jones will take another step closer to greatness with an epic win over Rashad Evans at UFC 145.

Jones is already a bona fide star in the UFC, as his 15-1-0 record and UFC light heavyweight belt attest to, but getting a win over the experienced Evans would be a huge milestone marker for the young fighter.

Evans holds a UFC record of 22-1-1, is a former UFC champion himself and is an absolute beast in the cage. He's a former collegiate wrestler from Michigan State and his skills translate very nicely for a grappler in the Octagon.

He's got a thick frame and uses it to take down his opponents and cause of ton of damage. He's a veteran fighter with championship experience, and he knows Jones well.

The fighters used to train together at the same gym in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but have since become bitter rivals, as chronicled by this piece by the Associated Press on WashingtonPost.com. According to the article, Jones doesn't believe their history of training together will give Evans an advantage:

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“He thinks he knows everything I bring to the table, but a lot has changed since he left the gym a year ago,” Jones said. “I’m a much different fighter than the one he trained with. I hope he is ready to see and feel that difference.”

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Even if Evans doesn't have that advantage, Jones will be running straight into a wall when he meets his rival at the center of the Octagon. This will undoubtedly be Jones' biggest test yet, and a win here would go a long way for his career.

A win over Evans would cement his status as one of the greats in the sport—and perhaps one of the best athletes in the world.

This is exactly the type of fight Jones needs.

He's already the youngest UFC champion in the sports history—having won the title at 23 years and 242 days old. But now he needs to get that marquee win over a bitter rival—a rival that happens to be very good.

True greatness is a tough thing to achieve, especially in the UFC, but Jones will be well on his way to cementing his status as a great fighter when he beats Evans at UFC 145.