Jon Jones almost lost the UFC title in the same way of his only defeat.
In the years before he was UFC heavyweight champion, Jon Jones had several title government in the light heavyweight division and defended his world title against all-comers: Daniel Cormier, 'Rampage' Jackson, Rashad Evans, Vitor Belfort and much more.
Jones considered unbeaten, Jones has a few spots on his 28-1 record, a contest result after his rematch with Cormier because of a positive drug test for an anabolic steroid and his only loss, a disqualification for Matt Hamill in 2009.
Jones bleed Hamill with Neerwaartse '12 -6 ′ Elbow attacks, which were illegal at the time.
A decade later Jones would be hit with what Déjà Vu.
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Jon Jones Kniest Illegal Anthony Smith in 2019 Title Fight
In the first defending defense of his last light heavyweight title line, Jon Jones met Grizzled -Veteran Anthony Smith on UFC 235 on March 2, 2019.
It was a fight that Jones absolutely dominated Van Bell-to-Bell and became stronger in the later rounds.
In round 3, Jones Smith smothered on the floor, so he wore his weight. 'Bones' delivered knees on the tibia and the body of Smith.
Round 4 was more of the same, with Jones Smith easily pulling down and cutting on his face with elbows. Jones tried a staircase on a grounded Smith who just missed his head.
Smith bloody and battered with 10 seconds to go into the round, Jones shot a brutal knee because it seemed as if Smith would rise again with his knee of the canvas. Smith, however, saw the strike put down one of his hands just before he ate a knee, making it an illegal move.
Referee Herb Dean paused the action to check whether Smith was in order and Jones prayed to God that he would not lose that way.
“I just started praying,” Jones ESPN said after he had brought the illegal knee to Smith.
“I had something like:” Lord, please don't let it happen that way … “
“I got Matt Hamill Flashbacks, my only DQ.”
Jon Jones says that Anthony Smith showed 'the heart of a lion'
Fortunately for Jon Jones, Anthony Smith chose not to take the easy way out and in less than a minute a bloody Smith was back on his feet and the referee told him he was in order.
What was a 10-8 round for Jones turned into an 8-8 round with referee Herb Dean who was not one but two points removed for the illegal blow.
Smith later revealed that he wanted to win the title of Jon Jones, not by stealing disqualification.
Smith completely earned the respect of the champion that night and made the five -round distance.
“Takes on Anthony Smith,” Jones said about his former title -Uitdager.
“The fight could have been over when I caught him with a knee while he was on the floor and he fought through it, and I respect him enormously.
“He will always have my respect … Anthony showed the heart of a lion and continued to fight while he was already exhausted, had already been beaten up and he said I have something else.
“What a man,” Jones added.
His 'Lionheart' -Bine name on the brand More than ever at UFC 235, Anthony Smith will take the last walk of his MMA career in UFC Kansas City this weekend. The 58-Fight veteran will meet the Chinese knockout artist Mingyang Zhang in his pension fight.