Anyone Else Feel Like The UFC Is Just Waiting To Unleash Jon Jones?

Every now and then, an athlete has superstar written all over them.  Usually, this is the result of simply being more talented than those around them.  The NFL’s Lawrence Taylor was one of these people.  From day one, it was obvious just how much more athletic he was than the professionals around him.  The speed, the strength, everything.  Well, as far as most can see, the sport of MMA may have one of these guys on its UFC roster as well.  The man’s name is Jon Jones, and he goes by “Bones”.  And if you’ve watched this 22 year old fight, then you know why this article is being written.

Anyone else feel like UFC President Dana White and matchmaker Joe Silva are simply waiting to unleash Jones on the upper echelon of the MMA world?

Against Stephan Bonnar at UFC 94, Jones did things to one of the toughest guys in the sport that have rarely have made their way into MMA before.  We’re talking about a spinning back elbow that dropped Bonnar, spinning sidekicks, and some highly theatrical takedowns on his way to an easy decision victory.

Then came the fight against former TUF contestant Matt Hamill, where a man known for his takedowns and wrestling was tripped to the canvas by Jones with flair and then pounded on- we’re talking severely here- by an onslaught of elbows and punches that would’ve taken almost anyone out.  Unfortunately, Jones lost that fight because during the devastation he connected with two illegal up and down elbows, thus leaving Hamill with a win via disqualification.  But that didn’t change anything about what really happened.

Finally there was the Brandon Vera fight, Jones’ most recent.  Jones took Vera down quickly and eventually hit home with that killer elbow that ended things.  It was done with less flair than the other bouts discussed here, but was still impressive.

You would’ve thought that a win against Vera, a former contender, would’ve catapulted “Bones” into the conversation with Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Rashad Evans, and Forrest Griffin rather quickly.  It did not with the UFC brass.  Rather, it netted him a somewhat parallel move to fight Vladimir Matyushenko, a veteran with great wrestling and an ability to grind out decision victories.  Sure, he’s a very good fighter; but the guy is not currently in the discussion that the aforementioned light heavyweight fighters are.  He still needs a win or two to be considered a contender in the UFC.

Which is why this has to be the last fight before the big time for Jones.  He wins here, and White and the gang do what everyone knows is coming; they unleash Jones’ amazing athleticism and talent on the upper echelon of the UFC light heavyweight division.  Even if Jones does somehow lose this fight, guess is that for a period of time people would still see exactly what this article refers to.

You know, that something truly different about Jones that makes him appear destined for greatness.