Give This Man a Title Fight!

For the most part, there are two different types of people reading this article. There is the casual follower, the person who watched the free fights tonight and decided that that young fella Jon Jones deserves a title fight. Then there's the adamant fan that either rents the big fights or attends a bar that hosts it.

This fan will have a wider range of fighting knowledge, but he/she too would agree that Jon Jones must be in a title fight. 

After many years where the sports’ main organizations almost turned to bankruptcy, MMA is making quite the comeback.

The mecca for sanctioned fights, UFC(Ultimate Fighting Championship), was purchased for two million dollars in 2001 and today is worth no less than 300 million.

With fighters emerging from every continent, it is one of the fastest rising sports in the world. The publicity is there, the money is there, so naturally, the talent is there.

Over the years, each weight class has evolved. Back in the early days of fighting, a guy like Dan Severn could get by on Wrestling or a guy like Kimo Leopaldo could get by on sheer size.

In today’s octagon, it takes everything. If you want to wear a title, you must be well rounded. Three years ago, the heavyweight division was ruled by guys standing around 225 pounds.

Today, you don’t even get a look unless you’re pushing at least 245. The next big thing in the 205 division walks around 6’4, weighs 205 and is intimidated by no man.

Jon Jones is far from old enough to own his own weight class by today’s standards. That weight class just so happens to be filled with parody, a new title holder emerging seemingly every other card.

Since 2007, there have been five different fighters that have claimed that honor. Through all the talent, Jon Jones has quickly emerged as a candidate for a title shot.

As of 2008, his record stands at 11-1. His only loss occurred after he was awarded a disqualification after he annihilated Matt Hamill, only to lose by throwing illegal downward elbows.

Impressive also is the fact that only two of those fights went to the scorecard. In fact, seven of his twelve fights have not left the first round.

He has been talked down by some as a fighter who is not an elite wrestler, yet he manhandled Matt Hamill, Jake O’Brien and Brandon Vera on the ground, all three who are well known as wrestlers.

He stood toe to toe with and defeated Stephan Bonnar, who many would argue claims the best stand up fight of all time with Forrest Griffin.

He has won with punches, he has won with elbows, he has won with chokes.

Tonight we saw him win with sheer strength and a confidence that deserves a chance at the best.

Mauricio Shogun Rua is the current title holder at 205 and after his back and forth series with Lyoto Machida, he should turn his attention to next big thing.

Jon Jones has shown that not only that he can handle many different types of fighters, he deserves a shot at Rua.

UFC president Dana White has already shown that he knows how to promote great fighters with great cards.

He would do well putting Jon Jones on the forefront, because Jones is forcing his hand sooner than later already.