UFC fighter Jon Jones is the best fighter in the world, and he proved that by dismantling Rashad Evans at UFC 145.
Not only did he beat his rival and retain the UFC light heavyweight belt, but he embarrassed Evans. He was dominant in every way, and even though they went the full five rounds, there was no questioning the fact that Jones was by far the better fighter.
He toyed with his opponent.
What is it that makes Jones so good? Here's a breakdown of the skills that makes him such a dominant fighter.
Incredible Reach
At 6'4'' Jones is already a very imposing figure, but his height is only part of his advantage. He has the longest reach in UFC history at 84.5 inches according to his UFC profile, and that may be his biggest weapon.
There's very few spots in the Octagon where you're safe from Jones and his dangerous jabs. He utilizes his reach to stay a good distance away from his opponents, but he still has the capability to strike at them.
His reach was on full display against Evans at UFC 145, as he was able to dictate the range of the fight.
Athleticism and Agility
The big thing you'll notice with Jones is that his natural skills and athleticism work very well together during a fight. He utilizes just about every part of his body to attack his opponent and he can pull off complex combinations.
We saw him attack Evans with kicks, strikes, high knees, elbows and even his shoulder at times.
He's an incredible athlete and he uses every bit of his skill in the Octagon.
Creativity
This may be the attribute that sets Jones apart. We've seen good athletes before and we've seen plenty of great fighters, but Jones' creativity puts him at a whole different level.
He has a plethora of moves and strikes in his arsenal, and the way he blends them together in accordance to the situation is almost art like.
There were times during UFC 145 where he would get Evans to focus on one hand, but then attack with a dangerous elbow from the other. He also kept Evans preoccupied with the movement of his hands and almost lulled him into a far less aggressive state.
Jones was literally playing mind games with Evans, and it's his creativity as a fighter that allowed him to do so.
Overall
There's a reason Jones is the champion and there's a reason he's quickly becoming one of the best athletes and biggest UFC stars in the world.
He's got a great combination of natural talent, skill and smarts, which makes him almost unstoppable in the Octagon.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com
No comments:
Post a Comment