I’m Calling It Now: “The Janitor” Will Mop Up Jonny Bones

That’s right, fans and friends. I’m taking the road less traveled and counting myself in the minority when it comes to the upcoming UFC LIVE/UFC on Versus 2: Matyushenko vs. Jones fight card, in particular, the main event between longtime MMA veteran Vladimir Matyushenko and rising UFC Light Heavyweight phenom Jon Jones. Jonny “Bones” has been on a tear inside the UFC, winning several fights in dominating fashion against stiff competition and having lost only one fight in his professional career, and even that was because he got a little too hot-headed and threw a couple of illegal elbows. But Matyushenko has been fighting for over ten years and lost only four times. In a year filled with upsets, I think the grizzled veteran will finally put a halt to Jones’ meteoric run to the top. Here’s why.

Jon Jones has seven knockouts on his record, and when you consider the fact that he’s only had eleven fights total, it’s not too soon to start calling him a knockout artist. But Matyushenko’s chin has held up remarkably well throughout the years. Since starting his professional MMA career in 1997, “The Janitor” has only ever been (T)KO’d twice. Andrei Arlovski was the first man to ever knock him out, and when it happened, Arlovski was in his glory days and considered one of the best strikers on the planet. His only other knockout loss would come six years later, at the hands (or more specifically, the knees) of Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Also, consider the fact that the only two other men Vladimir ever lost to were Tito Ortiz and Vernon White, and the only loss you can really hold against Matyushenko is White, since White had an abysmal 12-21-1 record going into that fight. My point is: other than Vernon White, it’s taken the cream of the crop to put away “The Janitor”.

But what about Jon Jones’ impressive wrestling ability? I admit that it will be a tall mountain to climb, but once again, I think Matyushenko is the man to climb it. Jones has an exciting, flashy style of wrestling utilizing all kinds of throws, slams, and ground and pound. Matyushenko’s style has always been no-frills, but it has also undoubtedly worked to his favor. Where Jones has two Unanimous Decision victories on his record, Matyushenko has nine. If Jonny Bones tries some of his crazy throws in order to impress the fans and look good in front of the men signing his checks, he may just find himself getting reversed, put on his back, and pounded out. Jones may have the better pure wrestling ability, but Matyushenko is the better strategist. If “The Janitor” can weather the storm and learn to predict Jones’ rhythm, he should have ample opportunity to make Jones pay for trying to get flashy on a no-nonsense grappler.

In fact, that’s how I see the fight in general working out. Matyushenko needs to weather the storm, survive the onslaught, and tire Jones out. If Matyushenko can start to grind on Jones and survive Jones’ attempts at big, exciting knockouts and throws, he’ll start wearing down “Bones” both physically and mentally.

I’ll admit that there’s a very real possibility that “The Janitor” could get knocked out. I don’t think he has a chance of getting submitted. I think if the fight goes to a decision, it’d be a tough one to call. But above all else, I think Vladimir Matyushenko has a far better chance to win this fight than almost anyone is giving him. The old dog still has a few tricks left in him, and I think he has a good shot at shocking the world and putting an end to Jon Jones’ run to the top. It’ll be an exciting fight regardless of anything else, and I can’t wait to see how it all turns out. I’ll be pulling for you, Janitor.

So what do you think, fans and friends? Will “Bones” add another tough opponent to his list of fallen foes, or will Matyushenko pull off the upset? And how do you see this fight playing out?