UFC 140: Will Jon Jones' 2011 Run Outdo Mauricio "Shogun" Rua's 2005 Streak?

With the recent announcement that UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones (14-1) will be taking on former champion Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida (17-2) at UFC 140, it gives Jones the chance to fight for a rare fourth time in a single year, and against another former champion.

Jones started 2011 with a submission victory over previously unbeaten Ultimate Fighter winner Ryan Bader at UFC 126.

After his training partner, Rashad Evans, was forced to pull out of a scheduled fight with champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua in March, Jones accepted the fight on short notice to challenge the Brazilian muay-thai expert.

The toughest fight of his three-year professional career turned out to be one of the easiest as the 23-year-old beat down and battered his opponent to win the title in the third round. He also became the youngest UFC champion.

A matchup between Jones and Evans was supposed to be next, but a hand injury kept Jones from fighting in the summer until he returned late in September to take on a former champion in Quinton "Rampage" Jackson.

"Bones" took the fight into the championship rounds but was in complete control throughout the bout. He was able to get Jackson down and submit him in the fourth round while defending his title for the first time.

UFC 140 will take place in Toronto, Canada on Dec. 10. It gives Jones the chance to go 4-0 in a single year and solidify his spot as 2011's Fighter of the Year, something he was already one of the leading candidates for after defeating "Shogun" at UFC 128.

The only streak that can be compared to Jones' is that of "Shogun's" 2005 streak in Pride—one that he started at the same age as Jones when he was only 23.

From February to August, Rua defeated Alistair Overeem, Ricardo Arona, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Quinton Jackson and Hiromitsu Kanehara. Wins over Overeem and Arona came on the same night.

His standout performances include stopping Jackson, Overeem and Arona. His fight with Nogueira was voted the 2005 Fight of the Year.

That seven-month stretch of victories earned Rua the title as 2005's Fighter of the Year as well as the Pride 2005 Middleweight Grand Prix champion.

Since Jones has yet to defeat Machida, and that won't be an easy task, it's not guaranteed that Jones will be able to go undefeated in the year.

If he does, he might be the greatest fighter the MMA world has seen in quite some time, if he isn't already.