An enormous surprise was awaiting Jon Jones after his victory 15 years ago today.
Jones is widely seen because the leading candidate for GOAT status in mixed martial arts, having enjoyed a level of success that not many have come near within the UFC.
‘Bones’ has won titles in two weight classes, heavyweight and lightweight heavyweight, but the majority of his glory got here at 205 kilos.
In that division, Jones holds the records for many title fights, title fight wins, and successful title defenses. Overall, no fighter in Octagon history has fought in as many championship bouts (17).
His very first saw Jones finish Mauricio Rua at UFC 128 to win the sunshine heavyweight belt, a title shot that the Rochester native had earned just two pay-per-views prior.
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Joe Rogan told Jon Jones he was fighting for the title contained in the cage at UFC 126
On this present day, February 5, in 2011, UFC 126 took place on the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The cardboard was absolutely stacked, with Anderson Silva’s front kick knockout of Vitor Belfort closing out the show after Jones, Forrest Griffin, Demetrious Johnson, and Donald Cerrone had all competed.
The standout undercard performance got here from ‘Bones’, who made an announcement against a person who would go on to enjoy title success himself.
Jones submitted Ryan Bader at UFC 126 with a guillotine choke to make it three wins in a row because the disqualification against Matt Hamill.
Most knew the result would put Jones within the title mix, however the then-23-year-old was not expecting color commentator Joe Rogan to inform him he was replacing his injured teammate Rashad Evans against champ Rua just weeks later.
“Here’s the situation: Rashad Evans was scheduled to face Shogun for the title. Rashad Evans is injured; he blew out his knee,” Rogan said.
“The UFC wants to offer you the chance to face Shogun Rua for the sunshine heavyweight championship of the world.”
An emotional Jones immediately dropped to his knees together with his hands on his head.
“I feel great. God is so good,” Jones said when Rogan joined him on the canvas.
“I’m going for a world title, baby! Let’s do it!”
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Jon Jones is paying a physical price for his MMA profession
Jones made essentially the most of the chance he secured at UFC 126, and it’s secure to say that he never looked back.
The Rochester native has remained unbeaten other than one DQ early in his profession and has gone on to change into the consensus best of all time
But every little thing ‘Bones’ has achieved across 30 pro fights contained in the cage has come at a physical price.
Jones recently revealed a worrying diagnosis while attending Dirty Boxing 5 last Saturday. Unaware that he was being recorded backstage, the previous UFC heavyweight and lightweight heavyweight champion said he qualifies for a hip alternative resulting from “severe arthritis.”
That health problem has not stopped Jones from targeting one final fight on the White House this coming June.