5 Reasons Why Jon Jones Could Beat Ryan Bader At UFC 126 "Silva vs. Belfort"

While it’s true that I’ve already given my prediction on who I think will win the upcoming ufc 126 “Silva vs. Belfort” bout that sees Jon Jones take on Ryan Bader (read my prediction here), it’s also true that this is one of the fights I felt most conflicted about when it came time to give my predictions. I’m a fan of both these fighters, and I think both men have a good shot at beating each other. So, in that regard, here’s the latest entry into the “5 Reasons Why” series of articles, with “5 Reasons Why Jon Jones Could Beat Ryan Bader”, with the reverse soon to follow. Let’s get right to it.

5. Training with the best helps you become the best, and there is only one Greg Jackson.

Greg Jackson has, over time, became one of the most-discusses head trainers in all of MMA. There’s one simple reason for that: love him or hate him, the man knows how to take fighters and make them champions. There’s a reason why one of Jackson’s nicknames is “Yoda”, and it’s because he’s an amazing trainer that knows how to bring out the best in just about every single one of his fighters. With a wealth of talent to learn from and spar with, including fighters like Rashad Evans and Georges St. Pierre, the training camp behind Jon Jones is definitely one of the biggest reasons he could beat Ryan Bader.

4. He’s not afraid to try something crazy on the off-chance that it’ll work.

Who throws a spinning back-elbow? Jon Jones does, that’s who. And why? Well, it certainly hurts if it connects. That’s one of the keys to the success of “Bones”: he’ll throw caution to the wind just to try out something new, and if it doesn’t work, he knows how to keep his composure. And if it does work? Well, not only does he have a new highlight to add to his reel, he’ll also have either landed a significant strike on his opponent or landed himself in a dominant position on the ground.

3. His ferocity is nearly unparalleled.

An angry Jon Jones is a scary, scary man. Jones knows how to put you into positions where you’re practically helpless, and from that point onward, he basically tees off on you with such precision, force, and speed that you’re soon removed from consciousness. It’s how he’s won a majority of his recent fights, and it’s one of the biggest reasons he’ll continue to excel. Jones doesn’t blindly bull-rush or gas himself out when trying to nail a fight-ending barrage, he’s able to skillfully pick his shots while still landing them with amazing speed and ferocity. That’s going to be a key factor in his upcoming fight with Bader.

2. His level of wrestling is outstanding.

If Jon Jones wants you on the ground, you’re going on the ground. “Bones” has many ways of putting you there, but the outcome is always the same: him in a dominant position, you in a world of hurt. Whether it’s his standard takedowns, his power takedowns, or even his throws, Jon Jones knows how to blast through your defenses and that’s a big tool Jones must utilize in order to beat someone like Ryan Bader.

And the number one reason why Jon Jones could beat Ryan Bader is…

1. Because he’s Jon Jones.

Jon Jones is a different breed of fighter: he can seemingly do it all, and do it all very, very well. Many people, including me, are predicting that he’ll be the future of the UFC Light Heavyweight division. As a whole, Jon Jones simply puts it all together in a nearly-unbeatable package. The simple fact that he is who he is will be Jones’ biggest strength against the talented Ryan Bader.

So there you have it, fans and friends: my top five reasons why I think Jonny Bones will continue his near-flawless Octagon outings and score a big win over Ryan Bader. What about you? What tools do you think Jones will have to utilize and unleash in order to beat “Darth” Bader?