Jon Jones has fought an array of fearsome punchers in his mixed martial arts career, but one man stands out from the pack.
This icon thumped ‘Bones’ so hard that the reigning UFC heavyweight champion can’t believe he remained conscious.
Jon Jones says Rashad Evans is the hardest puncher he’s ever faced
On April 21, 2012, Jon Jones went head-to-head with Rashad Evans in an eagerly-anticipated clash at UFC 145 inside the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Over the course of five brutal rounds, the pair traded leather, with Jones eventually emerging victorious in a defense of his 205-pound throne.
The win cemented Jones’ status as the best fighter in the world, with combat sports fans taking note of the talent he possessed.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the MMA star, with Evans almost leaving him flat on his back with a thunderous shot.
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In an interview with talkSPORT, he said: “The hardest punch I ever received was from a guy named ‘Suga’ Rashad Evans.
“He caught me with an overhand right, the same exact punch he hit Chuck Liddell with and dropped him; he caught me with that same punch.
“It wasn’t that he hit me so hard, it was the speed of the punch. It was almost like, you can tighten up or you can just let your arm be loose and let it swing. It’s kind of like an overhand slap, bro, he hit me so fast and I had no clue what it was.
“He just caught me right at the edge of my chin, and I remember my feet were to a point where I couldn’t control my legs. Then I refocused, and I was able to stand again, but bro, that was by far the fastest I’ve ever been hit. And thank God I didn’t become unconscious because I probably should have been.”
UFC legend shares new prediction for Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall
While Evans currently has the right to say he’s the man who’s hit Jones the hardest, it’s fair to say Tom Aspinall packs a heavier punch.
The interim heavyweight champion is chasing the polarizing title-holder, with a bulletproof belief that he can knock the 37-year-old out cold.
With that in mind, a UFC Hall of Famer has given a fascinating prediction for what he believes would transpire in the potential bout.
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