So much for the “travesty” that Jon “Bones” Jones was such a heavy favorite for his UFC 128 title shot against Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.
A late replacement for his injured former training partner and close friend Rashad Evans, Jones had very little turnaround time to prepare for his first crack at the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. As it turns out, that six week preparation time was enough–“Bones” destroyed Shogun in all areas of the game en route to a third round stoppage victory.
The win cements Jones’ status as the top light heavyweight fighter in the world and sets him up for a title fight against ex-partner Rashad Evans, who will apparently be leaving Team Jackson to train for the fight.
Also on the card: Jim Miller did not get the elite lightweight he felt he deserved after his dominant previous victory, but he still made an impression, delivering a TKO beatdown to the respected Kamal Shalorous. In his debut on an official UFC show, Urijah Faber defeated Eddie Wineland.
Full results follow:
Erik Koch b. Rafael Assuncao via KO (punch) at 2:32 of Round One
Nick Catone b. Constantino Philippou via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Joseph Benavidez b. Ian Loveland via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Gleison Tibau b. Kurt Pellegrino via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Mike Pyle b. Ricardo Almeida via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Edson Barboza b. Anthony Njokuani via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Luiz Cane b. Eliot Marshall via TKO (strikes) at 2:15 of Round One
Brendan Schaub b. Mirko Cro Cop via TKO (punch) at 3:44 of Round Three
Nate Marquardt b. Dan Miller via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Jim Miller b. Kamal Shalorous via TKO (strikes) at 2:15 of Round Three
Urijah Faber b. Eddie Wineland via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Jon Jones b. Mauricio Shogun Rua via TKO (strikes) at 2:37 of Round Three