By Spencer Barnett-
Don’t blink.
In a split-second you could miss one of the most explosive UFC fights to date.
Jonny “Bones” Jones will be making UFC history March 19th, fighting Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in a five-round bout for the Light-Heavyweight belt. Along with the title shot, former WEC Featherweight champion Urijah Faber will make his UFC debut fighting Eddie Wineland.
Any predictions on the fight?
Trevor Troop, a senior at Penn Manor, believes Rua will retain the title.
“Shogun is gonna win,” said Troop,”by a submission in the third round.”
“Rua’s got this,” said Kyle White. “I’m predicting an arm-bar submission win.”
“Shogun will win with a TKO (Technical Knockout) in the third round,” said Josh Carle.
Some other students like Jessen Smith, Daltyn Willard, and Casey Wells would beg to differ.
“Jon Jones looks like a young (Anderson) Silva,” said Smith. “and he’s extremely athletic, good frame and fast.”
Smith loves watching his unique style of fighting with tricky spinning back-fists and flying knees. He believes the fight will not make it passed the third round.
“I see Jones knocking Shogun out with an elbow,” Williard said. “It won’t make it past the second round.”
A lot of controversy surrounds the event due to Jones receiving the offer only six weeks before the day of the fight.
The original line-up was supposed to be Rashad Evans fighting Rua, but because of a knee injury, Evans was forced to drop out, which opened up a spot for the title.
Even after that, Jones was still not next in line.
Quentin “Rampage” Jackson was next, but turned down the offer, leaving his fans in a rage.
“I don’t care who the opponent is,” said Jackson in an interview with mmajunkie.com. “I’m not taking a fight on four weeks’ notice. It’s not enough time to get ready for a five-round fight.”
Is Jackson scared because of his last loss to Rua where he had to be carried out of the ring? Or is it what he believes is his weight?
“I’m 250 pounds, and I would have to lose 45 pounds in, what, three or four weeks? The first time I fought ‘Shogun,’ I was injured going into that fight, and it’s haunted me all the way up to now. I always believed the second time I fight ‘Shogun’ that I’m going to be close to 100 percent as possible.”
Dana White, President of the UFC, decided that since Jackson would not take the fight, the winner of the Ryan Bader and John Jones fight at UFC 126 would fill in the spot. Jones of course went on to win.
“We did the deal literally next to the Octagon,” said White. “We told Shogun ‘hey, listen if this kid wins, we want to put him in there for the fight. Right before Jones and Bader walked out, (Rua) and his team accepted it.”
How did Jones react to this?
“I had no clue my title shot was coming,” Jones said during the UFC 126 post-fight press conference. “Would I have asked for it? Sure, you know my goal is to be considered the best fighter in the Light Heavyweight division. “I feel as if it’s my time. My confidence is very high. I’m already in shape and I’ve got six weeks to make myself even better. That’s what I’m excited about. It should be great.”
So everyone: save your money, get together, order UFC 128 on Pay-Per-View, and getcha’ popcorn ready.
Shogun is an experienced and pin-point striker. He can spot a mistake in your stand up faster than a cheetah can spot a limp. See what he did to Machida for that one wrong move…. LYOTO MACHIDA !!!… I see Shogun winning, maybe by decision, or by submission.
I see Shogun knocking him out early. Jon Jones is too loose and flashy.Shogun knocked out the best defensive fighter in the world. And before that he beat him in a 5 round fight but was let down by the judges. Shogun is on another level right now. Jon Jones’ time will come… It just isn’t it right now.