JON JONES REGISTERED the eighth consecutive defence of his light-heavyweight title with an impressive unanimous decision victory over Daniel Cormier at UFC 182 in Las Vegas.
The victory — temporarily at least — settled the score of one of the most bitter rivalries in recent memory and solidified, beyond all reasonable doubt, Jones’ place as world’s best pound-for-pound fighter.
A crowd of over 11,000 at MGM Grand Garden Arena saw Jones weather a storm of Cormier’s punches in the second round before seizing almost complete control of the bout in the championship rounds.
All three judges scored the bout 49-46 in favour of Jones, the result of which was the challenger incurring the first loss of his career. The duo were each awarded a €50,000 bonus for Fight of the Night.
Much had been made of Cormier’s Olympic-level wrestling in the pre-fight build-up, and just how it might vex Jones, but it was actually the champion who excelled in that department.
Jones landed five of eight takedown attempts, including two in the fourth, while Cormier was successful with just one of his eight efforts to bring the champion to the mat. What’s more, it came in the fifth round, when the fight was already beyond his reach.
At times, Jones was simply masterful. He consistently scored shots from inside the clinch, with a variety of elbows, knees and punches. Cormier stayed competitive throughout, but had no answer for Jones’ ability to control the range at which striking engagements occurred.
Such is the landscape of the 205lbs division, and the likelihood that Cormier should be able to navigate a majority of its top five fighters, the pair should cross paths at least one more time.
Because of this, perhaps, Jones was far from magnanimous in victory and stoked the fires once more in his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan.
The undefeated ‘DC,’ the haters, all the crap he talked, it motivated me. I took him down. I think it was like, I don’t know, five takedowns to zero.” “I’m sorry I’m being classless right now. I do not like ‘DC,’ and this is why I’m being this way.”
For his next title-defence, Jones should be paired with the winner of Alexander Gustafsson and Anthony Johnson, who square-off in Sweden later this month
Prior to the championship contest, the main card had proved decidedly lack-lustre, as all four preceding bouts went the distance.
In the co-main event, Donald Cerrone derailed the momentum of undefeated prospect Myles Jury, by earning victory via unanimous decision. Cerrone extended his winning-streak to six – no mean feat in the shark-tank that is the lightweight division.
Middleweight Brad Tavares snapped a two-fight losing skid with a win over veteran Nate Marquardt, while Hector Lombard ensured fellow welterweight Josh Burkman did not enjoy a happy return to the UFC.
In the flyweight division, Japan’s Kyoji Horiguchi further stated his case for a shot at Demetrious Johnson’s crown, with a decision-win over Louis Guadinot. Horiguchi now stands at 4-0 inside the octagon.
Both Performance of the Night bonuses were awarded to fighters on the preliminary card. Heavyweight Shawn Jordan got his cheque for a first round knockout of Jared Cannonier, while lightweight Paul Felder was rewarded for his spectacular spinning back fist KO of Danny Castillo.