When Jonathan ‘Jon’ Jones took the victory against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, it fuelled a series of discussions regarding the pecking order of professional fighters and the legacy each leaves behind. But, one thing that everyone can agree on is the indisputable nature of facts. Jones, a 37-year-old martial artist, stepped back into the Octagon on the 16th of November at the renowned Madison Square Garden in the heart of New York. His appearance marked his second contest for the heavyweight title; a contest he won dominantly against ex-champion Miocic, who is now 42, by a technical knockout in the third round.
The subject of age was notably prominent in the pre-fight dialogue, particularly as Jones had previously voiced his objections to a bout with Tom Aspinall, the 31-year-old interim title holder in the heavyweight division. This was a source of much chatter among bookmakers, analysts, and fans who anticipated an easy win for Jones against Miocic, who was considered by many to be past his peak. The outcome of the fight was in alignment with these predictions. Post-match, Jones continues to have age as a central theme in his discussions, except now, he’s manipulating it to his advantage or at least trying to do so.
Starting off his statement with a true fact, Jones has held the record for becoming the youngest UFC champion in their history by defeating Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua at UFC 128 when he was a mere 23-years-old. However, as we delve further into his words, mismatches with actual facts start to surface, resulting in him facing accurate rectifications on public platforms.
Jones had inadvertently claimed to be younger than the current UFC light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira, an error that could lead to some interesting discussions given the potential for Pereira to be selected as Jones’ future opponent, should the UFC decide to dissolve the meaning of an interim title completely. Jones’ date of birth is on the 19th of July, 1987, while Pereira was born a mere 12 days earlier, on July 7, in the same year. Thus, Pereira, also known as ‘Poatan’, is, in fact, older than ‘Bones’, Jones’ nickname, despite what was initially claimed.
Despite these minor discrepancies, it could have been a case of oversight or a simple miscalculation on Jones’ part. Though the age difference is barely a fortnight, the numbers speak for themselves and are unalterable. Regardless of these numerical tangents, what stands out more significantly is the monumental professional career Jones has crafted within the confines of the Octagon.
Jon Jones embarked on his unique journey in 2008 and ended up in six regional fights in the same year before showcasing his prowess in his seventh fight at UFC 87 in August, debuting his UFC career. He went on to claim the honor of being the youngest mass-recognition UFC titleholder. Later, he acquired a championship title in a secondary division at the age of 35, continuing to project his dominance in the sport.
‘Jon’ Jones: Age as a Weapon in the UFC Ring appeared first on Real News Now.
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