Jones versus Evans is more than a war of words
When a fighter says they don’t like an opponent, sometimes it’s hard to distinguish real animosity from pre-match hype.
In the case of Jon Jones versus Rashad Evans, facing off at UFC 145 on April 21, it’s plain to see they don’t get along. My bet is that, upon entering the Octagon in Atlanta, there will be some genuine hatred flying across the cage.
Not that it was always that way.
Evans and Jones once fought out of the same gym – Greg Jackson’s camp in New Mexico – where they sparred, shared a locker room and bonded as only two men who fight for a living can.
Evans was the established warrior, helping put Jackson’s set-up on the map, while Jones was a prodigiously talented youngster who joined the clique after meeting the trainer backstage at a UFC event.
At first they headed off any talk of a head-to-head clash, but as Jones quickly made a name for himself, a fight between the two became as inevitable as their acrimonious split.
The war of words has been personal in the lead up to the bout.
Evans got the trash-talk rolling by revealing he used to get the better of Jones in practice in New Mexico, with Jones countering that he’s not the same fighter as the man in those sparring sessions.
“I love that he talks so much crap because the more crap he talks, the sillier he’s going to look when he loses the fight,” said Jones.
But when the shit-talking ends and they step in the cage, who will prevail?
The bookies and the fans have Jones as a warm favourite, with many ranking him as the best fighter in the game (that is, anyone not named Anderson Silva).
He’s the reigning light heavyweight champ, and has produced two phenomenal performances: the first, when he took the title from Mauricio Rua in 2011 to become the youngest champion in UFC history; the second when he viciously choked out the dangerous Lyoto Machida in December of the same year.
And did I mention that Jones is eight years younger than the 32-year-old Evans?
However, it would be stupid to discount Evans.
He’s a former champion himself, and he’s been around the block in his eight-year professional career. He still has the tools to lay out Jones, with good punching power and top-drawer ground fighting skills.
Evans will look to take down Jones quick and early to try and gain the upper hand, as it’s on the ground where he stands the best chance of winning.
As for Jones, his explosive athleticism and footwork will be the key, as he will need to cut off Evans’ angles and dictate proceedings.
If he can bring the fight to Evans and not give him time to mount attempts to take him to the floor, the younger man should prevail and retain his light heavyweight title.
Paul Hansford is the co-author of The Last Word - Mixed Martial Arts, which has been released by Germinal Press and is available on this website, all good bookstores and as an eBook.
Comments
On Tuesday, 17 Apr 2012 TuffGuy said...
“It's Bones all the way. Evans has no show!”
On Tuesday, 17 Apr 2012 Dancing Hands said...
“Tuffguy, I don't think you've been following this closely enough. Jones won't win, because Evans' is way too canny in tghe Octagon. Evans knows all his moves and will counter, bide his time then whack him with a big overhand. This will be Jones' first TKO in UFC, trust me.”
On Tuesday, 17 Apr 2012 Coleman said...
“I don't care, just as long as it's shown live in Oz. Who's broadcasting? Is it Fuel TV?”
On Tuesday, 17 Apr 2012 SifuGomez said...
“I'm not one of these people who think Jones will win easily or keep a hold of his title belt for another five years. It's a very contestable weight division and there's more and more talent coming up through the ranks. Having said that, Jones is an extraordinary weapon, and in all my years teaching martial arts, it is rare to see anyone of his calibre marrying brutality with such aplication and skill. I predict Jones. But just.”
On Wednesday, 18 Apr 2012 TaylorMead said...
“Just noticed on Twitter that in Australia, 61% of punters have Jones winning this fight. I thinks that's about right, given he's a much younger man with a far greater reach. Gonna be a helluva fight.”
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