Been A While

It has been a while since I've been excited about a fighter. My all time favorites are Sakuraba and Shogun. I have been amazed not only by their ability but by their thinking process, the way they think out a fight is amazing. Watching Sak cartwheel in the ring was spine tingling the first time I saw him do it. Shogun's wars with Overeem were legendary. Who has been this exciting in recent years? Not really anyone. Then last Saturday night I watched Jon Bones Jones become the youngest Champ in UFC history. I remember saying after the fight on Saturday night- "it looks like the belt might stay in his hands for a while." Clearly the biggest obstacle for him is his next fight against Rashad Evans only for the simple fact that they have trained together AND I think that is the only reason Rashad has a chance. Rashad knows his thinking process. What he may resort to if hurt and that has to be Rashad's most important attribute coming into a fight with Jones.

I was very impressed with Jon's response to Boxer James Toney's threat to punch Jones in the face if he saw him, Jones simply responded something to the likes, "Wouldn't that be assault and battery?" How can Toney respond to that? He tried to lure Jones into some kind of verbal battle so as to possible get another fight. Toney lost to Randy Couture quickly and convincingly, there is no way Toney had a shot with Jones. But then again there are not too many people left that do have a chance against him.

Did Shogun really ever have a chance against Jones? Yes, maybe 5 years ago. I love Shogun but I knew he did not have a chance. I told my wife the night of the fight what was gong to happen and it happened almost exactly like I told her but what was most shocking of the fight was the "disrespect" Jones showed Shogun by slamming front kicks to Shoguns decimated knees. I put it like this: If this was a car race Jones is a Ferrari and Shogun is that same Ferrari only it is 6 years older and has 300,000 miles on it.

I know I am jumping the gun here and there are a bunch of fights before this happens but the only person that has a chance to beat Jones is Anderson Silva. But I feel that Jones is the more intelligent of the two fighters. And, ultimately, I think that is what counts. If you look at the greatest athletes of any sport of all time, they don't really fit the profile to be the best at that sport. Michael Jordon is not the tallest, fastest or strongest basketball player. Muhammad Ali dido, Diego Maradona dido. Looking at the physical attributes is only part of it. You have to look at the thinking process and I think (no pun intended) Jones is the most intelligent fighter around. His ability to not only win fights but to display an unorthodox style makes him the most promising fighter around AND he's the champ.

What other lightheavyweight has a chance to beat him? Well realistically they all do. Anyone can knock someone out. But to beat him say 3 out of 5 fights, NO ONE-

Machida is at the forefront but he can run backwards all day long and try to lure Jones close but he is going to get punched from way across the ring in a way he is not use to. Jones can keep his distance and still reach Machida. Machida's real chance is to get close and punch punch punch. And that will leave him open to blood gushing cuts from Jones' knees.

Rampage, he'll just say something funny like "we gonna have some Black on Black crime" but stylistically what does Rampage bring to the table, nada.

I have a feeling the person that takes the belt from Jones is someone not even on the radar, some guy who's hungry and looking for a chance to step into the UFC. Someone with natural gifts like reach, height, strength...intelligence!

It feels great to have a fellow New Yorker as the Champ, I have a feeling with his charisma and sense of humor he will do well as an ambassador to the sport, specifically towards legalizing the sport to New York State.

Good Luck Champ!!!