Jon Jones: Jiu-jitsu is my biggest flaw
If you had to pick a single instance that marks the rise of the latest wave in mixed martial arts,…
If you had to pick a single instance that marks the rise of the latest wave in mixed martial arts, it arrived on the point of light heavyweight Jon “Bones” Jones’ knee.
Five seconds into his March 19 fight with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in Newark, Jones leaped forward and smashed his left knee into the face of a man once called the best fighter in the world. The moment his head snapped, Rua, usually known for explosive flurries, melted into a plodder, lunging with single punches, reaching vainly for low-percentage leg locks or simply gasping helplessly on his back.
Less than 15 minutes later, one final burst of strikes from Jones sent Rua to his knees on the floor of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s cage as referee Herb Dean stepped between the fighters to halt the slaughter.