Rua has no issue with Jones as opponent
Despite spending so much time preparing for Evans, though, Rua doesn’t think the switch to Jones is a major change….
Despite spending so much time preparing for Evans, though, Rua doesn’t think the switch to Jones is a major change.
“Each fighter is a different fighter with a different style of fighting,” he said. “Jon Jones is a very good striker. He has good Muay Thai and a good wrestling base. To be honest with you, it’s pretty much the same type of work I was doing training for Rashad Evans – training a lot of wrestling, a lot of Muay Thai. It doesn’t change that much.”
Jones is just 23 years old, and his pro MMA career has lasted fewer than three years.
Yet Rua believes the former JUCO national wrestling champion is most deserving of his title shot.
“I thought he did pretty well (at UFC 126),” he said. “In all of his fights, he’s always winning convincingly. I think he is the guy that deserves to fight for the belt the most right now.”