Jones Defeats Evans by Unanimous Decision, Retains UFC Light Heavyweight Title

Jon Jones announced the winner by unanimous decision 

Jon Jones came out to a song entitled "The Champ is Here," by hip-hop recording artist Jadakiss. By the end of the main event at UFC 145, he walked out of the Octagon as champion after defeating Rashad Evans in a mostly one sided affair in front of a packed house at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.  Like many ring side observers, commentators and fans, I thought that Evans would be hard pressed to try and figure out the puzzle that is the undisputed UFC light heavyweight champion. While Evans had the best shot at beating Jones, having trained with him for many years, Jones had made significant improvements in his game and was not exactly the same man that he had known in training.

Joe Rogan interviews winner Jon Jones

Jones told Joe Rogan that his victory over Evans was, "[his] most satisfying victory." When asked if it felt different fighting Evans rather than training against him, Jones responded saying, "It felt totally different. I threw a lot of elbows, which you wouldn't do to training partner." And boy did those elbows land, staggering Evans in the second round, what seemed to be a major turning point in the bout. Jones also said since the time he trained with Evans; "I feel like a better wrestler, and a lot stronger." He stuffed every takedown attempt that Evans attempted, and even pulled guard at the end of the final round.


While there was a great deal of bad blood, trash talking, and assault on each other's character, Jones gave kudos to Evans saying, "Rashad was very strong and I wasn't able to finish him like I wanted to."

Joe Rogan interviews a disappointed Rashad Evans

When Rogan spoke with Evans, he too was willing to admit where Jones had improved, saying Jones was, "very crafty and tricky, which kept me off balance." Unlike Jones though, Evans thought the fight was very similar to training and said, "There are some things Jones did tonight that he did better in training."

Whether Jones and Evans will be friends again seems possible, but neither man hinted to it happening anytime soon. Perhaps as this fights fall deeper into history, Jones celebrates and Evans regroups; we may see the two in one another's company again. Brothers fight often, but the bonds of love are hard to break. This time, the little brother emerged victorious, taking his unbeaten streak to 4-0 over UFC light heavyweight champions. What's next for Jones is anyone's guess. I'm sure there will be a handful of opponents standing in line to plead their case to UFC President Dana White. While us fans may be prematurely thinking about a dream match between Jon Jones and Anderson Silva, two fighters who seem to be unbeatable at the moment. Surely the topic may come up, and there's always the heavyweight division where Jones is likely to face more guys his height, with a lot more punching power than anyone in his division.

For now, Jones can bask in the moment as he remains truly unbeaten and the undisputed UFC light heavyweight champion of the world.

In other fights at UFC 145, Mark Bocek defeated John Alessio in a three round decision in the lightweight division. Eddie Yagin defeated Mark Hominick in a close fight in the featherweight division. Michael McDonald knocked out former WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Angel Torres. In a heavyweight match up, Ben Rothwell knocked out Brendan Schaub with one punch after being staggered by a spinning elbow. And welterweight phenom Rory MacDonald dominated Che Mills, winning in the second found by TKO.

Until next write...

Comment and check out my debut novel, The Virgin Surgeon