UFC 145 features a huge grudge, Jones vs Evans

Published: 23^rd Mar 12 4:53 pm

by Chris Shelton
Houston Sports Blogger

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UFC 145 features a huge grudge, Jones vs Evans

Tom Szczerbowski-US PRESSWIRE

When Jon Jones crawls into the Octagon at UFC 145 against Rashad Evans in Atlanta, the entire atmosphere will be different than his previous fights.

There will be a level of emotions that pervades the match which the UFC has not seen in some time. The Evans-Jones grudge match has a Tito Ortiz versus Ken Shamrock feel to it. It is a mammoth fight. The anticipation has been building for months.

There is a gravitas that surrounds the situation because it has been so polarizing.

Jones and Evans were once great friends. In fact, Jones and Evans were one of the tandems who vowed never to fight each other, due to their close training relationship. John Fitch and Josh Koscheck have also made a similar proclamation.

Their relationship became strained when Jones admitted that he valued his title aspirations above their friendship, which is a sentiment that most fans appreciate.

Jones, in a statement on his foxsports blog said “My opponent believes he ‘has my number’ because of the time we spent training. While he is obviously familiar with how I fight, I am familiar with him too, and we didn’t spend that much time training together. If you added up all the days we worked out together or sparred, we probably only trained together for a month. That’s a ton of time to observe someone, but it’s not like we spent years training with each other. … I’ll let my opponent continue to say he has my number. On April 21 he’ll realize he doesn’t even have my area code”

Many have speculated that Evans consistently got the better of Jones during their days in Greg Jackson’s training camp. But who knows.

Evans recently added fuel to the burning blaze that dominated this highly anticipated bout during an interview on Spike TV’s “MMA Uncensored Live.”

When asked if he’d choose to be able to go back in time, change things and be lifelong friends with Jones, or if he’d rather just beat his ass, he said.

“At this point, uh…I’d rather beat his ass. To be honest. I’d rather beat his ass. But you know, it’s kinda crazy ‘cuz I’m goin’ off the emotion that I’m feelin’ right now. You know? But, I dunno. A friend for life is a pretty good friend, so I guess maybe the friend for life would be one that lasts longer ‘cuz a friend in the cage is just for in the cage, but a friend for life is something you’d always have.”

He said that he harbors no ill will towards Jones because his success pushed him out of the limelight.

“I’m not jealous of Jon Jones. You know, whatever Jon Jones has in life and whatever he’s accomplished, he’s earned. I can’t want what another man has, because when it’s time for me to have something, undeniably, it will happen for me. It’s really foolish for me to be jealous of anybody because being jealous isn’t gonna bring anything faster for me.”

All will be decided soon. This is another case in sports where the questions will be answered in the chosen field of play. Sports, in this aspect, provides the perspective that we search for in life because it is America’s only meritocracy.

So every question will be answered.

Will Evans be able to take Jones to the ground and impose his will?

This is perhaps the most important predictor of the winner because Jones, with his length advantage, should be able to get Evans to the canvass.

Who will win the stand-up portion of the fight?

Reason would tell you that Jones should win with his length advantage but Evans maybe able to get inside of Jones length by using his quickness.

Who will win this fight?

I do not know.

I can’t wait to watch though.

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