UFC 128 - Shogun V. Jones

UFC 128

WOW!! To a fan who just watched UFC 128 to see what the hype was all about probably was confused who was champion. I am a big fan of The UFC and I too was unable to grasp that Maurico 'Shogun" Rua was the champion and John 'Bones' Jones was the #1 contender because of how Jones completely dominated the champion.

Jones came in the championship fight as a 2 to 1 favorite and after his performance, those odds were more than justified. Shogun Rua is an incredible fighter, a legend in the young sport and many who have been a fan of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) can attest to his skills and thought those odds would backfire. I was one of them but after seeing the fight, the odds makers were, in a way, respectful to Rua. I could not believe that Jones has only been fighting for only three years, yes only three years whereas Rua has been fighting the best in his weight division for almost a decade.

I can not say anything else other than the fact that Shogun looked like a rookie by a rookie in the sport that is what John Jones is considered. However, Shogun showed that he was rightfully the champion by the effort he displayed by not retreating and giving up on himself, his team and his fans. He showed the heart of a champion even if the outcome of the fight did not make him retain his champion title. Congratulations to John 'Bones' Jones and much respect to Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua, whom I still consider a great fighter or how it said in his native Brazilian Portuguese: Mauricio Rua e um gran lutador com coracao de um campeao.