Jon Jones Reflects on Career-Defining Fights Ahead of UFC 309
Jon Jones is preparing for his UFC 309 title fight against Stipe Miocic. As he looks ahead, he’s also reflecting on the fights that shaped his journey. This upcoming showdown on November 16 might be “Bones” Jones’s final fight. However, he hinted that a possible match with light heavyweight champ Alex Pereira could keep him in the octagon a little longer.
Jones recently shared his reflections with Tom Taylor from Bleacher Report. He recalled a few defining fights that helped him grow as a fighter.
Facing Stephan Bonnar: Jon Jones’s First Big Test
Jones points to his 2009 fight with Stephan Bonnar as a major turning point. It was the first time he faced a well-known opponent, and it taught him about self-belief.
“Yeah, the first one I start with was Stephan Bonnar,” Jones said:
“He was the first really famous person that I fought against, and it was the first time I realized that there was gonna be doubters and naysayers. There’s gonna be people that don’t believe in your dreams. People in my hometown were like, ‘Stephan Bonnar? The guy from The Ultimate Fighter? The guy who fought Forrest Griffin?’ At the time, I was just a snotty nose kid from Endicott, New York. No one had ever heard of me, and I had to dig and realize that I could be great and that I can compete with well-known UFC fighters, and when I did, my confidence grew so much.”
Becoming Champion Against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua
In 2010, Jones made history by defeating Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. He became the youngest UFC champion in history. This fight showed him what he was capable of achieving.
“The next fight would be Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua. He was a guy that I had become a fan of. I studied a lot of Pride fights when I got into MMA. I watched his destruction of many people, and I was a real fan of him. Beating ‘Shogun’ made me feel like I could do it. Like, I could go on and become undefeated. There was no man that I couldn’t beat. That’s what changed in me, the night I beat ‘Shogun,’” Jones shared.
The Intense Rivalry with Rashad Evans
Another memorable fight for Jones was against Rashad Evans, a former friend. The personal nature of the rivalry made this fight unique.
“Then, there were guys like Rashad Evans where the personal beef was just so deep, and we actually knew each other personally. I felt like we were fighting for the Jackson’s MMA banner,” he explained.
Battles with Rampage Jackson and Daniel Cormier
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson was also a tough opponent. Jones described this fight as “hell.” His rivalry with Daniel Cormier was even more intense. Reflecting on it, Jones said, “We took years off each other’s lives with that beef.”
Quotes via Bleacher Report
As Jones prepares to face Miocic, he’s mindful of these moments that shaped him. Whether UFC 309 marks the end of his journey or leads to a new chapter, his legacy is already written.
Featured image credits to Embed From Getty Images
