Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida: The Dragon Draws First Blood

Jon Jones and Lyoto Machida are slated to throw it down at UFC 140 in what might turn out to be the toughest test yet for the young phenom.

Thus far, both fighters have shown an equal amount of respect for each other leading up to the fight, however, that will change once Jones gets wind of “The Dragons” recent comments about him.

The normally laid-back Machida recently took an uncharacteristic swipe at the UFC light heavyweight champion.

Apparently Machida has refused to be caught up in the Jones hype and he more or less stated it, emphatically I might add.

According to abs-cbnNews.com, Machida had this to say about Jones.

"Jones' rise doesn't impress me," Machida said. "I had my moments in the UFC, too."

The first comment sounds like fighting talk, even if it’s a bit unseemly coming from Machida.

The second comment, however, smacks of sour grapes. Sure Machida’s had his moments, so why begrudge Jones his moment in the spotlight?

Jones acquisition of the championship belt is in no small part due to Machida’s failure to comprehensively negate the challenge of Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.

I’m not insinuating that had he still been champion he would’ve defeated Jones, but he’d at least have had the opportunity to do so.

That opportunity will present itself at UFC 140, where he’ll vie for UFC gold once again.

And as Machida pointed out, “I want to feel it again, that belt around my waist.”

So, is this Machida being quiet before the storm or is it an attempt to get under the skin of the phenom that is “Bones” Jones?