UFC 128 Fight Card: Five Reasons Jon Jones Will Beat Shogun Rua
UFC 128 is just around the corner, and it may have the most anticipated fight of the year.
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua vs Jonny "Bones" Jones for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
Originally, Shogun was supposed to defend his title against Rashad Evans. However, Rashad blew out his knee in training, leaving an opening for the title fight.
Jones was offered the title shot after submitting Ryan Bader at UFC 126.
Many people, including the oddsmakers, are predicting that Jones will be victorious. Here are five reasons why they are right.
Size
1 of 5
Jon Jones would have a size advantage on anyone in the UFC.
Not just the light heavyweight division, but even over heavyweights, including Stefan Struve.
Jones is 6'4'' and has an 84.5'' reach. However, Shogun is only 6'1'' with a 76'' reach.
If Jones can use his jab, and his size in general, to keep Shogun on the outside and set up takedowns, then Jones could be well on his way to getting his title.
Wrestling Pedigree
2 of 5
Jones was a JUCO National Champion wrestler and is a fantastic Greco-Roman wrestler.
His throws and takedowns have been too much for every opponent to handle.
His wrestling is outstanding, and he has outwrestled PAC-10 Champions (Ryan Bader), JUCO Champions (Vladimir Matyushenko), National Champions (Matt Hamill) and Olympic medalists (Matt Hamill).
It is easy to think that Jones will easily take Shogun down.
Recent Performance
3 of 5
That picture is as if he is saying "what now?"
Jones has breezed through all his competition, and even in his one DQ loss, he was less than a minute from a TKO win.
Jones has been fighting about two to three times per year since joining the UFC and has simply beaten everyone in his path.
Shogun has not fought in nearly a year and is 3-2 in his past five fights. Two of his wins were over an old Mark Coleman and a Chuck Liddell on the downslide.
Jones has been performing better lately.
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Flashiness
4 of 5
I couldn't say striking ability, because I think Shogun has the better outright striking.
What Jones has on his side is his unpredictability, flashiness, and his general unorthodox striking.
Shogun is a straight muay-thai fighter, Jones just throws whatever seems to fit in the moment. Flying kicks, spinning elbows, flying knees, spinning backfists, whatever he thinks will land, he does.
That makes it very difficult for Shogun to prepare for.
Not only is it difficult to prepare for, but Jones does not have all that much film to study that you could find any type of pattern.
Hunger
5 of 5
In a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, Jones said that he believes it is his time.
He is only 23. This could still be considered a childhood dream to him.
How many people can even say they've gotten this close to achieving their childhood dreams?
Jones wants this title; nothing is going to stand in his way.
The winner, and the NEW Undisputed Light Heavyweight Champion of the World...
Jonny "Bones" Jones
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