As Jon Jones prepares to meet Mauricio Rua at UFC 128 it seems more people are interested in the possibility of Jones facing teammate and friend Rashad Evans should he win. If his behavior on the recent conference call is any indication, Jones has had enough of those questions. MMA Mania brings the quote:
“I want to be clear to other reporters, that I absolutely HATE when people mention Rashad Evans, especially throughout this training camp. He’s a friend of mine but I’m fighting Mauricio “Shogun,” one of the best fighters that’s been around for a long time. So for people to even be mentioning Rashad Evans right now, I think, is ludicrous. Rashad is not in my mind, he’s not in my being, he has absolutely zero to do with my heart and who I am right now. Right now it’s me vs. Jon Jones and right now I’m beating all the weakness out of myself, I’m beating all the give-up out of myself, I’m beating the lack of cardio, I’m beating the lack of confidence; any sign of weakness that’s within my heart right now, I’m getting rid of it. The fact that people are bringing up Rashad, it almost angers me. Rashad has nothing to do with “Shogun” and I think from here on out I won’t even answer a question about Rashad.”
Two major mistakes are being made here by the MMA media. First, assuming that Jones is going to win. This is going to be a fight unlike any that Jones has been in before. Rua is more dangerous than anyone else Jon has ever faced and treating it like we’re on the countdown to a Jones title win does the champion a major disservice.
The other mistake being made is overlooking a truly great fight and focusing on a will-they-won’t-they story about Jones and Rashad. The focus keeps shifting to this potential fight over the known fight sitting in front of us and the reason is likely because everyone wants to be the guy who pushed the button enough times that Jones or Evans snapped.
But me? I’m just going to sit back and wait for March 19 for one of the most exciting fights that could be made in this great sport.