UFC 128 Fight Card: Five Reasons Shogun Rua Will Beat Jon Jones

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 that they are wrong.

Striking Ability

Simply put, Shogun is a vicious striker. He has 19 wins in his MMA career, and 16 of those have been by way of (T)KO.

The guy has beaten some of the best strikers in MMA history.

Chuck Liddell, Alistair Overeem (2x), Rogerio Nogueria, Lyoto Machida, Evangelista Santos and Rampage Jackson are all victims of Shogun Rua.

Jones has never faced a striker of his caliber.

Jiu-Jitsu Ability

While Jones does have more submissions than Rua, Rua has a BJJ black belt under his, well, belt.

Shogun's lone submission was a kneebar over Kevin Randleman.

Jones has three submissions, all guillotine chokes.

I think Shogun has the edge in the ground game, but don't expect to see him take it there. He may have a black belt, but he'd rather beat people up on their feet.

Experience

Jones has only been fighting for three years. Shogun has been fighting for nine.

Right there, Shogun has an experience edge. Shogun also has 23 professional fights, whereas Jones only has 13.

He has been practicing muay-thai since he was 15 (14 years), and jiu-jitsu since he was 17 (12 years).

Shogun has been around longer, been in more fights and is generally more experienced than Jones.

In addition to being in more normal fights, Shogun has...

Been in Title Fights Before

Yes, Shogun Rua has been in more title fights than Jones.

Shogun has been in the fights where the weight of the world is on his shoulders.

Shogun fought (and won) the Pride Middleweight Grand Prix in 2005. Then he fought for the UFC Light Heavyweight Title, lost, and then won in a rematch.

Shogun has been in high pressure fights, Jones has not.

For all we know, Jones may crumble under his own expectations.

It's His Time

Shogun has not been all that consistent since being signed by the UFC.

He is 3-2 in his UFC career, and the only halfway decent person he has beaten has been Lyoto Machida.

He finally won the Light Heavyweight Title at UFC 113. He is only 29-years-old.

Shogun is due for a long, long title reign. It is his time.

The winner, and STILL the Undisputed UFC Light Heavyweight Champion of the World...

Mauricio "Shogun" Rua

UFC 128: Shogun Rua vs. Jon Jones: Results, News and More