UFC 187

Jon “Bones” Jones (21-1) vs. Anthony “Rumble” Johnson (19-4)

May 23, 2015

Set to go toe to toe against each other for the main event in UFC 187 are Jon Jones and Anthony Johnson. While both have enjoyed large amounts of success in their MMA careers, their backgrounds couldn’t be any more different.

Fighting as the undisputed light heavyweight champion is Jon Jones. Known for his exceptional wrestling abilities, with a junior college wrestling national championship to prove it, Jones also presents himself with striking and submission abilities unlike any other. Knocking out 43% of his opponents, Jones is sure to be ready to enter the octagon that Saturday night.

Fighting as the challenger is Anthony Johnson. Knocking out 68% of his opponents, Johnson is widely known as one of the most feared standup strikers. The challenge that always occurs when attempting to fight Jon Jones is having to overcome his UFC-leading, 84.5 inch reach.

Jones controls fights with distancing and closing the gap, something few have overcome, as evident by his undefeated record (he was disqualified once, leading to a loss). Johnson, with a 78 inch reach, will give a new challenge to Jones, lessening the usual overwhelming gap.

Johnson also shows weakness in the area of submission defense. Out of his four losses, Johnson has been submitted three of those times all by rear-naked choke, a position a great wrestler like Jones will be looking for.

Although there were many criticizing Johnson’s chance at the belt, that quickly changed when he knocked out Alexander Gustafsson within a minute, a fighter Jon Jones had gone five rounds with, barely scraping together a win.

With the title on the line, these two men are set to go to war on May 23, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada, a fight that is for sure to be fast-paced and entertaining.