UFC 135: Jon Jones Says He Won't Let "Half Passionate" Rampage Jackson Beat Him

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is set to make his first title defense against Quinton "Rampage" Jackson at UFC 135. 

The 23-year-old earned his place in the light heavyweight division after dispatching Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 128 to become the youngest UFC champion in UFC history. Now, Jones understands that the hard work has only just begun and is aware of how valuable his belt has become, but he said it will take a lot more than just that to remain champion in the company's most talented and competitive division.

"Right now, I feel as it's my belt and I'm not gonna give that away," Jones said in an interview on The Fight Fix, courtesy of FightersOnly.co.uk. 

Jones' first challenge will be former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson, who was the last competitor to have a successful title reign. Jackson lost the title to Forrest Griffin via split decision at UFC 86 in 2008, a bout that Jackson believes he won and still claims the 205-pound crown belongs to him. 

A longtime supporter of the former Pride FC star, Jones said he understands why Jackson still calls himself the uncrowned champion. But since watching Jackson compete throughout the years, Jones said he doesn't consider "Rampage" as the dominant force he once was, ultimately questioning his mentality as a fighter.

“I'm not gonna let someone who's maybe half passionate take my dreams away from me," he said.

"I'm striving for perfection. To give Rampage everything that I've worked so hard for, I just can't allow that to happen.”

And while Jackson has lacked motivation recently, perhaps an opportunity to reclaim the belt he considers he never lost will motivate him to put on a competitive bout against the younger, unorthodox Jones.