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SCRAPP! FIGHT MAGAZINE
February - 2015
13
For Jones and Johnson,
success against the other
would also represent a
win over themselves. Irony
at its finest. As both men
carry their respective bag-
gage from personal errors
of judgement into this
fight, the opportunity to
walk away with a world
title offers the sweetest of
redemptions. Johnson’s is-
sues with weight are well-
known and widely publi-
cized. The thought of him
fighting at welterweight
as he did for so many
years is inconceivable,
and I even attended one
of those bouts in person.
The three times he missed
weight during his first spell
in the UFC each represent
a missed chance to fulfil
potential. As Johnson has
alluded to in several inter-
views, his errors were a
product of stubbornness
and failing to believe his
confidantes.
After succumbing to Vitor
Belfort at UFC 142 and be-
ing cut from the promo-
tion, ‘Rumble’ received the
reality check he needed,
moving up to light heavy-
weight and enjoying great
success. For Jones, a failed
drug test for a cocaine
metabolite overshadowed
what was an awe-inspiring
performance against Dan-
iel Cormier at UFC 182.
The media space reserved
for fresh claims of ‘Great-
est of All Time’ status was
now filled with inquiries
into his personal life and
maturity. A victory over
Johnson will turn that at-
tention back to his in-
cage accolades and fulfil
vows increased focus and
dedication to the sport of
MMA that Jones made at
UFC 182’s entertaining
post-fight press confer-
ence.
While Johnson showed
improved conditioning at
light heavyweight in his
fight with Phil Davis, cut-
ting off the cage and play-
ing the aggressor for three
whole rounds, it would
not be unreasonable to
speculate that Johnson’s
greatest chance of suc-
cess against Jones would
come from trying to fin-
ish the fight early. Jones
has fought five rounds in
each of his last three title
defences. In those outings,
he has exhibited elite con-
ditioning and fighter IQ –
creativity and the ability to
adapt game plan midway
through the fight.
The results have seen
Jones outperform his op-
ponent in the fourth and
fifth championship rounds
on each occasion, from
mounting a comeback
against Gustafsson to
mimicking his idols in the
slugfest with Teixeira. Can
Jones show the same re-
solve that made him the
‘King of the Grind’ against
Daniel Cormier while
weathering the explosive
fury that is Anthony John-
son in round one?
Redemption On The Grandest Stage
Finesse versus Fury