**THE Official UFC 128: Rua vs Jones Fight Thread**

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UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva Discusses Jon Jones



http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2011/3/22...sses-jon-jones

If Anderson conducted more interviews like that, I'd have a far less thirst to watch his legacy sacrifriced at the feet of Jon Jones. But since he doesn't usually do that, I hope he's ready to be KO'd from elbows to the top. We know he is fully capable of beating top LHW compe ion, so it's not really a question IF he can go back up in weight - it's if he believes enough he can win against Jones.

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UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones Before MMA

This rare footage of new UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones in a grappling tournament was taken in January 2008, around 3 months before he would make his professional MMA debut.

The footage was taken by Stephen Koepfer aka 'Sambo Steve', founder of New York Combat Sambo and the American Sambo Association as well as a key player in the local movement for MMA legalisation in New York. Koepfer was actually coaching Jones' opponent Doug Fournet in this match at the 2008 Northeastern Grappler's Challenge:




http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2011/3/23...nes-before-mma

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Jon Jones is the best I've ever faced - Shogun

Mauricio Shogun Rua has paid Jon Jones the highest of compliments, admitting the reigning UFC light-heavyweight champion is the toughest fighter he has ever faced.

Shogun lost his 205lb belt to Jones at UFC 128, suffering a third-round TKO as the American stamped his mark over the light-heavyweight terrain.

In an illustrious career that has seen Shogun win the Pride Middleweight Grand Prix as well as UFC gold, the Brazilian has fought a who's who of MMA's biggest names. Brutal victories over the likes of Rampage Jackson, Wanderlei Silva, Alistair Overeem, and Lyoto Machida have ensured Shogun's place as a future legend of the sport, but Rua places the name of Jones above all his previous rivals.

Asked by ESPN if Jones is the toughest fighter he has ever fought, Shogun replied: "Yes, I think so.

"After the Jon Jones fight I gave it a lot of thought, I reflected a lot, I thought about my training... everything. I came to some conclusions, but I don't want to take anything away from Jones, he's a good fighter.

"I have given it a lot of thought though because I hope to fight him again one day."

After that sole defeat to Jones, Shogun now finds himself back where his UFC career started, fighting Forrest Griffin, whom he faced on UFC debut. The likes of Machida and Jackson are above Rua in the pecking order, regardless of his previous victories over them, but he remains calm despite being written off in certain quarters of the MMA world.

"I'm used to that [lack of respect] already, ever since I started in MMA it has always happened. I don't really care, I'm used to that and I have to be focused," said Rua.

"Those kind of things cannot hinder me, it's part of the game."

http://www.espn.co.uk/ufc/sport/story/91847.html