Best Fighter People Need To See: Jon Jones Gets Ready for Matt Hamill

Jon Jones is set to appear in his first UFC main event—except he is far from the headliner.

As Jones prepares for fellow light heavyweight Matt Hamill, he knows that all eyes will be focused on a certain preliminary fighter making his full-fledged UFC debut.

“Being able to fight on the same night as Kimbo Slice is great,” Jones said. “Kimbo fought Roy Nelson, and I think six million people watched.”

Jones is extremely close to the true number. According to Spike TV, the actual count of people that watched the first airing of the Kimbo Slice and Roy Nelson fight was 6.1 million. That is the highest rating Spike ever received for a UFC bout.

Knowing that this will be the most viewed fight in his career has pushed Jones to train at a higher level.

“It motivates me to keep working harder,” Jones said. “I think you’re going to see a new fighter.”

Jones will be a new fighter? He has already embarked on a very impressive start to his MMA career. He has a perfect record at 9-0 and that includes three UFC victories (Andre Gusmao, Stephan Bonnar, and Jake O’Brien).

“I haven’t lost, and I really have no reason to doubt myself,” Jones said when asked about his preparation for Hamill. “I’ve been encouraged to re-tap into my wrestling. I am learning even more submissions.”

In order to improve his skills, Jones now works out at the famed Jackson MMA training camp in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This will be a stark improvement over how he used to learn his MMA technique.

“I’m not getting any more moves off of youtube,” Jones said, “I have a legit coaching staff now.”

For a young fighter entering the UFC, the conventional route is to go through the Ultimate Fighter TV show. Jones did show up for the casting call to season eight in which the coaches were Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

“I did tryout for the Ultimate Fighter,” Jones said. “I did great at tryouts, but I was too young. I was only 20 at the time. With all the alcohol, you had to be 21.”

Jones took the rejection in stride.

"If you don’t make it the first time, you can always catch the second bus.”

The second bus was a trip to Minnesota as a late replacement against Andre Gusmao. Jones filled in for Tomasz Drwal on only three weeks notice. The result was a unanimous decision victory for Jones.

Now, the UFC’s top light heavyweight prospect prepares for what may be his toughest opponent yet. Jones and Hamill are set to square off on Saturday, Dec. 5. Hamill is 7-2, and one of the losses was a highly controversial defeat to Michael Bisping.

Jones respects everything that Hamill has accomplished—regardless of the fact that Hamill is deaf.

“I don’t pay any attention to his disability,” Jones said, “He is an amazing person for what he’s done. His being deaf has nothing to do with the person he is.”

What many experts feel is the biggest detriment Hamill experiences due to his lack of hearing is the fact that he can’t listen to his corner during a fight. That is one part of fighting that Hamill and Jones have in common.

“I don’t really hear my corner during a fight too much anyways,” Jones said.

Another area that Hamill and Jones are similar in is their fighting backgrounds. Both athletes are accomplished wrestlers. As a three-time NCAA Division III National Champion, Hamill is certainly the more decorated of the two, but Jones feels that he could have been just as successful.

“I was heading to Iowa State on a full scholarship,” Jones said. “I put my career on hold due to family obligations, but I was on the way up.”

Besides wrestling, Jones is very confident in the other facets of MMA.

“I don’t give him the upper hand in any aspect,” Jones said when handicapping the fight. “I can beat him in Muay Thai kickboxing match, a collegiate wrestling match, or a jiu-jitsu match.”

Should Jones continue his triumphant run in the sport, he has even loftier goals outside of the light heavyweight division.

“I see myself fighting at heavyweight,” Jones said in regards to his long-term future. “I’m still growing. I have two brothers—one older and one younger. They are both gigantic.

“One of these days, I am going to be one of the big Jones boys – instead of just ‘Bones’ Jones.”

Before any move to heavyweight happens, Jones first has to get past the experienced Hamill.

In predicting the fight, Jones stopped short of proclaiming victory, but he did promise an exciting show.

“I will do something special.”