UFC Tweedivisie Champion Jones's first title defense contained almost unwavering nerves in the lead.
Jon Jones has taught fear in many of his UFC opponents during his legendary career, also during his multiple UFC -light heavyweight Reigns. Jones, perhaps the biggest hunter in the UFC history, defeated many legends during his stint in the light heavyweight division and set the record for the youngest hunter to hoist UFC Gold.
After beating Shogun Rua to win the UFC Light Heavyweight Belt on UFC 135, Jones earned a fight date with Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson for his first title defense of the career. Jackson, who made himself a global star before he moved from pride to the UFC, was one of the most intimidating attendees in the Octagon during his physical prime.
Just like Jones, Jackson brought fear into his opponents in his career in his opponents. In the run -up to UFC 135, Jones was one of those rivals who felt fear in faceing the hard punching Jackson.
Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC
Jon Jones had ruthless nightmares from Knock -Out result for Rampage Jackson Fight
During an appearance on the wild ride of Steve-O! Podcast, Jones, explained his fears before he entered the Octagon to fight Jackson.
“So with Rampage Jackson I continued to have this nightmares that I would be eliminated. No matter how the fight played, I would always be eliminated, and it was always within the first 30 seconds of the fight,” Jones said.
“As soon as I would run to the middle, he would walk away, swing a huge upper hand right. In another dream it was an uppercut, it was a left corner and I could not avoid this inevitable knockout that I would experience in the first round,” Jones continued. “And I am a big fan of sports psychology, and I call that 'red zone thought'. If you have a negative thought, then cancel it with a positive thought, as if someone hit you a … … … … …
“I could not avoid these images and nightmares from Rampage Jackson that eliminated me. So during the fighting evening I had the feeling that I would be eliminated, and I had the feeling that if he came for me, I would have energetically got these signals from a higher power that” Jon would happen tonight “and I couldn't avoid it.”
Fortunately for Jones, he was able to overcome his before the fight to become the first UFC hunter who finished Jackson in the Octagon. In a dominant version, he tapped Jackson with a followed choke in the fourth round to defend his UFC light heavyweight belt.
Jackson never returned to a UFC title fight, with an up and down finish of his career in the cage. He withdrew from MMA after a loss for Fedor Emeliansko at Bellator 237 in 2019.
Jon Jones responded to viral petition in which the stripping of the title of heavyweight champion was called
Fast forward to 2025, and the status of Jones as UFC title holder has been taken under fire from some Vecht fans in recent weeks. In the midst of his continuous negotiations with the UFC about a collision with Tom Aspinall, Jones has plagued pension in various posts on social media, which has created frustration of the UFC fan base.
While Jones was running on his short pension contract, he does not seem to be in a hurry to return to the Octagon to fight against the Interim Heavyweight Champion Aspinall. Jones finished Stipe Miocic on UFC 309 in November in his long -awaited first heavyweight title defense.
Jones's Hiatus led many UFC fans to sign a now viral petition in which was called for the promotion to rid him of the UFC Heavyweight title. A petition on Change.org has collected more than 40,000 signatures and counts and Jones has taken note.
In a response to social media, Jones seemed to poke pleasure with those who signed the petition and compare it to one of his notorious controversies. UFC CEO Dana White remains adamant to the Jones vs. Aspinall Fight will flourish later this year.