Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson believes there should be an asterisk next to Jon Jones’s UFC accolades.
After becoming the UFC’s youngest-ever titleholder, Jon Jones would meet Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson in his first title defense at UFC 135. It was regarded as Jones’s biggest test after dismantling Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua to capture the UFC light heavyweight championship.
Jones vs. Rampage featured an eventful pre-fight buildup. Jackson accused Jones of planting a spy in his camp, and Jones teased Jackson for his video game obsessions leading up to fight night.
Inside the Octagon, Jones made it look easy against Jackson. He systematically broke down Jackson on the feet, and once the fight hit the canvas, Jones overwhelmed Jackson en route to a submission victory.
Despite being years removed from their fight, Jackson believes Jones is a dirty fighter, and bends the rules to gain an unfair advantage.
Rampage Jackson points out two things that make Jon Jones ‘the dirtiest fighter’
During an interview with Chris Van Vliet, Jackson explained his stance on Jones.
“Jon Jones is a great fighter. Even if he was standing in this room I would say it. But he’s the dirtiest fighter ever,” Jackson declared. “The guy is so smart. He does the most dirtiest things.
“If you’re doing anything good on him, he’s going to poke you in the eye. If you’re advancing or doing anything good or you get the advantage, he’s going to kick your knee backwards.” (h/t MMA Junkie)
Jackson was then pressed to pinpoint a specific technique Jones utilized in their fight that he believes is considered ‘dirty’.
“For one, I think that knee kick – they call it like an oblique kick – he’s kicking you right on your kneecap,” Jackson said. “I think that should be banned. … My knee is still messed up from that fight because it hyperextended – he kicked it all the way back. You can end people’s careers with those moves.
“Jon Jones, he’s good. He doesn’t even have to do that. Think about all of those spinning elbows he used to do in the beginning. Where did they land? Do you remember? In the back of people’s heads. It’s illegal. Jon Jones is like the dirtiest fighter.”
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Jon Jones’s tactics have come under scrutiny during his career
After defeating Jackson, Jones didn’t slow down in his pursuit of light heavyweight greatness, defending the belt 11 times against a slew of dangerous contenders. He defeated the likes of Daniel Cormier, Alexander Gustafsson, Rashad Evans, and Vitor Belfort during his multiple titleholding stints.
13 years after the Jackson fight, Jones is the UFC’s heavyweight champion and is inching closer to a long-awaited clash with Tom Aspinall. Despite earlier hesitancy in facing Aspinall, Jones is in active negotiations with the UFC to make the fight come to fruition.
Jones and Jackson have mutual respect for one another, dating back to before they squared off in the Octagon. But Jackson still believes Jones’s tactics and in-fight infractions make him the dirtiest fighter in the sport’s history.