MMA Recap

Jon "Bones" Jones is set to take on Matt "The Hammer" Hamill in the main event of "The Ultimate Fighter Heavyweights" finale on December 5.  Jones is considered by many to be the future of the sport with his unorthodox striking and an ability to be unpredictable in his fights.  He recently became a part of Team Jackson and is training there full time.  In between his busy training schedule, MMA Recap's Brent Todd caught up with the light heavyweight fighter to discuss his striking techniques, his match up with Hamill and more.

How'd you get into fighting?
I went to a two year college and wrestled there.  When that came to an end, mixed martial arts was the closest thing to continue being an athlete and make a little finance at the same time.  It was like a no-brainer for me.

Any plans to go back and finish your college degree?
I definitely want to go back.  I don't consider myself as a college dropout more as someone who is putting their college career on hold.

You were the youngest fighter ever signed to the UFC, do you feel your age plays a factor in your fights?
I am the youngest light heavyweight on the roster.  My age doesn't affect me at all, it just means I have to work a little harder.  People are always saying that I am so long and I can have a career forever, but I know that any career can be over at a young age. It really just motivates me to train harder and keep in top physical shape so I can make the best of it while I can.

Your first two fights in the UFC were the first two fights of yours that went the distance. Was it a factor due to the step up in competition and do you think there is anything you should have done differently to finish the fights?
Yeah I think they went the distance because of my inexperience and I think it takes a while to be able to go in there and pull the trigger.  The more fights I get, the more comfortable I will be.  And I really hope to start finishing opponents soon like maybe Matt Hamill.

You are scheduled to fight Hamill on Dec 5, how do you think you match up with him?
I think I match up very well with him.  He's a tough guy and has a really strong wrestling base that I am working towards.  I am training to stop his takedowns and striking wise I think I am a little ahead of him.  I am not going to put anything past him.  The guy has fought fights in the UFC and knows how to win a fight.  I don't want to fall victim by thinking I am better than him in any way.

Hamill to me has a great wrestling base, but seems the most dangerous in the clinch with his dirty boxing.  Are you doing anything to look out for that or training for it?
No not really.  I am ready to mix it up with him and see how it goes.  Training hasn't changed that much really as I am just focusing on the techniques.  I want to be a really well rounded fighter for this fight.

Many have proclaimed that you are the future of the light heavyweight division.  Some even going as far to say that it is the Machida era until you earn your way to a title contention.  Does this put any extra pressure on your training?
I think it is an honor to be considered so good and have people look at me that way.  It's slight pressure, but I don't really think about it too much.  Just trying to stay undefeated is enough pressure.  I just need to focus on the fight ahead of me then I think everything else will take place.  It motivates me as I want to keep that hunger and not let myself down.

Where do you think you rank in the UFC light heavyweight division?
Skill wise I think I am up there with everyone else in the division.  Everyone is really good and we are all so different.  And where I lack experience in ring time, I think my creativity and freshness make up for it.  I think it is hard to study me as all of my fights are different. I get better after each fight.  I think it would be difficult for any fighter to prepare for me and I think I am just as good as everyone. 

Is there anyone you want to fight after the Hamill fight?
No just the next step up.  I want to fight someone who's considered to be better than Hamill, then someone considered to be better than that guy all the way up till I make it to the top of the ladder.

Is this the last fight on your contract?
No I just signed a new four-fight deal and this is the first fight of my new contract.

What prompted you to train out of Jackson's camp?
Jervis Cole who is Rashad Evans's manager thought I would be a good fit for me and I hopped on it.  So Cole called Greg Jackson and Jackson talked to Keith Jardine and Rashad Evans to see if they would be ok about me joining the family.  Two-days later I got the nod and the next month I moved.

What's it like training at Jackson's camp?
It's great.  The coaching staff is amazing.  Greg Jackson is amazing.  I thought I was a really good fighter until I went there.  All these guys have such different styles and are really good.  That phrase iron sharpens iron is true.  In my old gym I would be the guy beating up all of my teammates, now I am getting beat up and it is wonderful.  You go with the best guys and it will only elevate you.  I am looking forward to see how I do in this Hamill fight now.

Would you fight a teammate if it was for a title?
I wouldn't fight any of my teammates.  Greg has a very strict policy that family comes before money.  I wouldn't violate that.  We are teaching other techniques and it just wouldn't make sense to fight each other.

According to your website you have the longest reach in UFC history.  Do you train to utilize this advantage?
I am training to use it.  After the Jake O'Brien fight that I wasn't using it at all.  I have the longest arms in the league and I wasn't using it.  It really hit me when I was having dinner with GSP and we got to talking about my reach.  He emphasized the most that I didn't use my reach.  So now I have been training to use it better.  I plan to use it a lot more in this next fight.

You are known for your unorthodox striking, why do you think it has been so effective in your fights?
I think because I am a different fighter in every fight.  It makes it very hard to study.  Maybe O'Brien was watching the Bonnar fight and I came out as a different fighter.  That's the way I will continue to be.  You might see me run out there and pull guard one day. (laughing)

Do you practice these strikes?  Where did you get the idea for them?
I think it comes from a lack of technique and I just have to use what I can.  The spinning back elbow I got from a photographer who owns mmaphotography.com.  We were in a hotel and he said Jon don't try this tonight, but I think you are athletic enough to do it.  He had learned it from a Tony Ja movie.  So without ever training it, I pulled it off against Andre Gusmao.  After the fight I watched the tape of it, and realized this was a good technique and I started training it.

What do you do when you aren't training?
When I am not training I am hanging out with my daughter and my fiance.  Just studying footage and being an mma geek.

Where did the nickname "Bones" come from?
Back in high school I was really skinny and my friends called me bones.

What's your favorite cereal?
I don't eat cereal.  I have eggs and oatmeal and toast every morning.

Any sponsors you want to thank?
Team bombsquad for being such a great team and Silver Star as they help me out so much as they make training and traveling a lot easier.

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