UFC 94 discussion: Stephan Bonner vs Jon Jones

[Cbear]

UFC 94: St-Pierre vs. Penn 2
Saturday, January 31, 2009
MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV
http://www.tqlkg.com/image-3274067-10281880
Pay-Per-View Bouts

Georges St. Pierre vs. BJ Penn
Lyoto Machida vs. Thiago Silva
Stephan Bonnar vs. Jon Jones
Karo Parisyan vs. Dong Hyun Kim
Nate Diaz vs. Clay GuidaPreliminary Bouts

Jon Fitch vs. Akihiro Gono
Manny Gamburyan vs. Thiago Tavares
Chris Wilson vs. John Howard
Jake O'Brien vs. Christian Wellisch
Matt Arroyo vs. Dan Cramer

[Ash]

If Bonnar loses, it'll ruin my night.

[Cbear]

I dont even know who his opponent is. Is this supposed to be a gimme for Bonner?

[Ash]

Alot of people are saying it is. Jones didn't look great in the Gusmao fight, and he has very little MMA experience, but Bonnar has a tendency to make every fight as hard on himself as possible for some reason, so I dunno.

[Gomi]

If Bonnar loses, it'll ruin my night.

I'm with you, man.

I am a huge Bonnar fan. I have been singing his praises since I joined the boards. He may not be the fastest, most powerful, or most dynamic fighter out there ... But what he does have a good background in both boxing and Jiu Jitsu, a big heart, solid chin, and the ability to sustain a moderate pace for 3 rounds.

Plus, he's a ****ing cool guy :p

[Gomi]

The argument he has with Diego over asparagus on Season 1 = epic.

[ShootProof]

The argument he has with Diego over asparagus on Season 1 = epic.

An asparagus argument = epic???? LMAO

[wgrapple]

An asparagus argument = epic???? LMAO

You haven't seen it then ;)

He confronts Diego Sanchez about eating all the asparagus in a very comical fashion.

[sportsgenius86]

Jon Jones' nickname should be "The Martian Canhunter"

[ilostmydog]

Stephan: "No more playing stupid, you know what asparagus is."
Diego: "Shut up. I ain't listening to you."

[moriarty]

Jones looks pretty big ... but does he have any ground game at all?

[telerion]

Some one tell me what JUCO is please.

[ilostmydog]

Jon Jones' nickname should be "The Martian Canhunter"

Nerd reps.

[sportsgenius86]

Jones looks pretty big ... but does he have any ground game at all?

Well he was a JUCO National Champion Wrestler apparently, but I don't recall much of a BJJ game from what little I've seen of him.

[wgrapple]

Some one tell me what JUCO is please.

junior college...

[mallrat]

What's with the gay theme toinight?

1st Clay dry humping Nate.

Then Rogan's man love for Karo.

Now the entrance music FOR BOTH FIGHTERS....WOW (especially Jones)

[BruceLee]

Some one tell me what JUCO is please.

Junior College

[sportsgenius86]

Some one tell me what JUCO is please.

JUnior COllege.

[Lord Strongo]

what the ****. poor choice in music for both.

[mallrat]

Some one tell me what JUCO is please.

In NCAA it refers to Junior College

[wgrapple]

Jon Jones coming out to POE "Angry JOhnny" and Stephan to The Who "Eminence Front"

Awesome song selections tonight!

[wgrapple]

Now the entrance music FOR BOTH FIGHTERS....WOW (especially Jones)

If you talking smack about the Who you deserve some elbows to your grill my friend! ;)

[mallrat]

lol @ Rogan saying the Bonnar vs. Griffin fight the most significant in MMA history...REALLY?

[sportsgenius86]

I would come out to "In The Air Tonight" by Phil Collins.

[Cbear]

If you talking smack about the Who you deserve some elbows to your grill my friend! ;)

Hey, I loves me some WHO but thats not exactly their most exciting song.

[Lord Strongo]

thunder kiss 65

[mallrat]

If you talking smack about the Who you deserve some elbows to your grill my friend! ;)

Does the Who really get you fired up to fight...I like the Who, hell even Frank Sinatra but I wouldn't enter to it.

[sportsgenius86]

lol @ Rogan saying the Bonnar vs. Griffin fight the most significant in MMA history...REALLY?


Well, in a certain context it is.

If that fight hadn't happened, there's a very minimal chance that Affliction would exist, that EliteXC would've ever happened or that this event would even be taking place.

So yea.

[ilostmydog]

lol @ Rogan saying the Bonnar vs. Griffin fight the most significant in MMA history...REALLY?

Considering it was more or less the watershed moment that massively increased MMA's popularity in North America...then, yeah REALLY. Can you name any fight that was more significant to the sport of MMA?

[Cbear]

Jones making Bonner look bad here. Nice throw. And another.

[Lord Strongo]

this kid looks good.

[isshjui]

nice take down. think Bonner pulls it out

[LuckyD]

Come on Bonnar, my picks are sucking ass tonight.

[Cbear]

Yeah, Bonner/Gump really was a watershed moment in U.S. mma and it was the rocket up the ass that shot UFC to the moon.

[mallrat]

I still don't see how 2 basically unknowns with mid-level skills makes the most significant fight in history. I guess it's just hard for me to believe, especially considering i can't stand TUF.

But can admit I'm wrong and my dislike for TUF makes me not want to admit it.

[Cbear]

Wow, great elbow! Jones is also tossing around Bonner like a rag doll. Im really impressd with Jones.

[ilostmydog]

That was ridiculous.

[ilostmydog]

I still don't see how 2 basically unknowns with mid-level skills makes the most significant fight in history. I guess it's just hard for me to believe, especially considering i can't stand TUF.

Like I said, can you think of any fight more significant?

[BruceLee]

Bonnar needs to use his JiuJitsu

[Dgilbert]

really impressive round by jones, total domination.

[ilostmydog]

Man, that elbow hit right in the back of the head it looked like.

[sportsgenius86]

If Jones ever fights Rashad Evans, I think it will just be 25 minutes of seeing who can do the dumbest cocky pose.

[Cbear]

I still don't see how 2 basically unknowns with mid-level skills makes the most significant fight in history. I guess it's just hard for me to believe, especially considering i can't stand TUF.

Keep in mind that TUF was the turning point for the UFC going from bleeding red ink to profitability and Bonner/Gump was a very exciting brawl that ended the shows season perfectly. You can arguably say that fight was the singular turning point that led the UFC to riches.

[mallrat]

Like I said, can you think of any fight more significant?

Honestly NO...even though I hate to say that.

[wgrapple]

Was that elbow to the back of the head?

[jimboh]

Surely that spinning elbow was a strike to the back of the head?

[isshjui]

Bonner getting man handled. Suplexs spinning elbows, kicking his arse

[mallrat]

How was that not a elbow to the back of the head

[LuckyD]

Jones very impressive here. Bonnar has got to step it up.

[niniendowarrior]

Yeah... that looked like an elbow at the back of the head. I think the commentators willingly turned blind to that.

[sportsgenius86]

I still don't see how 2 basically unknowns with mid-level skills makes the most significant fight in history. I guess it's just hard for me to believe, especially considering i can't stand TUF.

But can admit I'm wrong and my dislike for TUF makes me not want to admit it.

It's really an argument not worth fighting. Take that from someone who fights several of those types of arguments.

It's the most important fight in MMA history.

[ilostmydog]

Was that a knee to his head while he was still on one knee? WTF?

[The_Splatoon]

Pretty cool stuff.

[sportsgenius86]

Anyone else think Bonnar was down just now when he took that knee?

[Cbear]

Was that a knee to his head while he was still on one knee? WTF?

Looked like it to me too but nobody called it so I wonder if he was coming up?

[ilostmydog]

Honestly NO...even though I hate to say that.

Why would you hate to say that? A fun fight is a fun fight.

[LuckyD]

Man Bonnar sucks

[sportsgenius86]

At some point this kid will hold a major title.

He's still green, but 21? ****.

[isshjui]

where did this guy come from

[The_Splatoon]

Wait, being good at one thing makes you good at other things? I don't quite follow that logic.

[Cbear]

Jones looks like he might be starting to gas from whipping Bonners ass so long. Well, until that massive throw that is. :)

[Dgilbert]

rd 3 will be interesting, jones is gassing. But man am I impressed how he's rad dolling bonnar all over the cage.

[Cbear]

2 rounds up for Jones as Bonner has no answer for him. Unless he gasses and lets Bonner ko him, this is a very big win for Jones.

[jimboh]

Bonnar needs a KO or a sub. He's down by two.

[Cbear]

Speaking of guys who gas, its Shogun.

[ilostmydog]

I think Jones might crash and burn here. He looked pretty tired towards the end of round two.

[LuckyD]

Jones is gassing a bit, but Bonnar has to hit a hail mary here to win.

[wgrapple]

Jones looks awesome.

[sportsgenius86]

20-18 Jones

That throw was ridiculous, but that scissor trip was retarded.

[sportsgenius86]

Anyone else think Shogun looked gassed after all those hand gestures?

[mallrat]

Why would you hate to say that? A fun fight is a fun fight.

That's like saying a high school football game is the most significant game in the history of football, But I understand what everyone is saying and can agree that it reached the broades audience and turned more people on to MMA than any other single fight.

[The_Splatoon]

20-18 Jones

That throw was ridiculous, but that scissor trip was retarded.

Hey, Ryo Chonan begs to differ!

[LuckyD]

Bonnar needs to keep up with the uppercuts!

[Cbear]

Bonner finally getting some nice punches in as Jones is gassing. He has to get the ko to win. Another takedown by Jones so if he just smothers Bonner the rest of the round he wins.

[mallrat]

Bonnar wins a split secision by way of being a TUF fighter

[Cbear]

Anyone else think Shogun looked gassed after all those hand gestures?

Somebody get him some water!

[sportsgenius86]

When you're fighting a guy who hasn't fought in over a year and your cardio is noticeably worse, you have ****ty cardio.

[LuckyD]

****ing stupid Bonnar is going to lose...

[Lord Strongo]

this kid with a full tank and the right trainer could be a bad dude.

[mallrat]

ANother average fight. Jones was fun to watch, but Bonnar just got worked but still an average fight to me.

[sportsgenius86]

That's like saying a high school football game is the most significant game in the history of football, But I understand what everyone is saying and can agree that it reached the broades audience and turned more people on to MMA than any other single fight.

That 50 year old game between the New York Giants and Baltimore Colts is the most significant in the history of football, and compared to current NFL standards, that game was severely lacking.

[Cbear]

this show might set a record for decisions.

[ilostmydog]

That's like saying a high school football game is the most significant game in the history of football, But I understand what everyone is saying and can agree that it reached the broades audience and turned more people on to MMA than any other single fight.

I'd say that calling Bonnar/Griffin a 'high school football game' would be more than a little elitist.

[ilostmydog]

I hope this one is another split decision.

[Cbear]

****ing stupid Bonnar is going to lose...

You shoulda got a 5th instead of a pint. Its going to be a long night of decisions.

[mallrat]

I'd say that calling Bonnar/Griffin a 'high school football game' would be more than a little elitist.

How elitist?

[The_Splatoon]

Watch the Machida fight be a sub-30 second KO.

[LuckyD]

Will we see a fight get finished this card?

[Dgilbert]

this jones kid impressed the hell out of me, he hung on in the last round when he was clearly gassed, but those first two rounds were really good work. This kid has a bright future.

[sportsgenius86]

three decisions and the next fight is a Machida fight? Jesus christ.

Also...

"Judge Cecil Peoples scores this bout, 29-28 in favor of Parisyan"

it's coming. Just wait.

[mallrat]

LOL at Rogan saying Bonnar looking defeated at the end of Rnd. 3....You think?

[Cbear]

Bonner got completely outclassed in that fight.

[wgrapple]

Jones 29-28

[The_Splatoon]

How elitist?

A little elitist.

[LuckyD]

You shoulda got a 5th instead of a pint. Its going to be a long night of decisions.

Damn right...I might make another trip down the road...

[Cbear]

Will we see a fight get finished this card?

Dana gets to keep his bonus money for sub and ko of the night. :)

[mallrat]

This card had so much promise...

[moriarty]

Bonnar the American Sucko

[sportsgenius86]

They're running WAYYYYY behind

[Cbear]

They're running WAYYYYY behind

maybe they should show BJ/GSP next just to make sure time doesnt run tight.

[moriarty]

maybe they should show BJ/GSP next just to make sure time doesnt run tight.

They're banking on BJ not being in shape to go more than 3 rounds.

[sportsgenius86]

maybe they should show BJ/GSP next just to make sure time doesnt run tight.

Yea. I'd agree here

[mallrat]

A little elitist.

How elitist...please explain I don't get it...Are most fighters in the TUF houses as good as most UFC fighters?

Are most UFC fighters as good as the Champions or Top 3-5?

Hence High School...3 layers removed from the top... Maybe single or double A to MLB would have been a better choice of words

[ilostmydog]

maybe they should show BJ/GSP next just to make sure time doesnt run tight.

They still have 1h15min left. More than enough time. I also remember looking at the ppv schedule on my tv and seeing that this one goes an extra half hour, so 1h45min left. Lots and lots of time.

[isshjui]

never seen bonner destroyed like that

[Lord Strongo]

They still have 1h15min left. More than enough time. I also remember looking at the ppv schedule on my tv and seeing that this one goes an extra half hour, so 1h45min left. Lots and lots of time.

they do that everytime machida fights

[Raker]

Congrats to Jones he looked great, sucks for Bonnar though he came back after all this time and injuries and gets manhandled. Hopefully he'll get right back in the gym and come back in his next fight like he has in the past and give a better performance for himself and his fans.

[moriarty]

they do that everytime machida fights

Machida demands you take that back now.

[crazedwombat]

man, decision machida is known for, def a night for decisions, jones looked awesome and bonnar is no joke, so I'm quite impressed, but I've seen bonnar faster than he was tonight

[Ash]

Bonnar had alot of ring rust, and on top of that, he just didn't fight intelligently. Shouldn't have kept clinching against a guy who was gonna throw him, shouldn't have taken every shot on his iron chin, and should've kept the fight standing, where he was in control. Jones looked alright while he had gas, but when he ran out, he was horrible. He's young though, so who knows how he'll turn out.

[troyk]

jon jones looked like a freakin beast tonight. very impressive

[troyk]

Bonnar had alot of ring rust, and on top of that, he just didn't fight intelligently. Shouldn't have kept clinching against a guy who was gonna throw him, shouldn't have taken every shot on his iron chin, and should've kept the fight standing, where he was in control. Jones looked alright while he had gas, but when he ran out, he was horrible. He's young though, so who knows how he'll turn out.

jones beat the living sh!t out of bonnar in the first 8 minutes of that fight. how is that just "alright"?

[thehughes1]

Jones looked great. He has gotta be one of the top prosepects at 205. Don't know if Bonner had rust or was just that outclassed. I really like him so hopefully he can bounce back from this.

[ilostmydog]

I just hope they don't throw Jon Jones to the sharks after this. He's still very much a prospect, and he should still be getting experience before stepping up in competition.

[tpnurdle]

All I can say is that the 205 pound class is well taken care of. It is mixed with current in their prime talent, some aged vets who can still bang, and some kids who will be ready when the aged vets finally leave. Very exciting.

[Skinny]

Wow, Bonnar took some big shots.

Wow, Jones threw some big shots.

If Jones can pace himself a little better he'll have a shiny future.

[Thumpin]

Jones looked very impressive tonight against Bonnar (who looked a bit slow and rusty). Loved how he mixed up his throws and strikes. I look to see a lot from this guy!

[ACIDBATHBELFORT]

Jones is a very exciting young fighter with a lot of promise. He has a great future ahead of him. I cant wait to see him in action again.

[Vanno]

I'm down to drink the Jon Jones Kool Aid. He reminds me of a Rumble Johnson, in that he is a very solid explosive wrestler with some impressive striking. He is still raw though, and there is no reason to feed him to the sharks yet, especially since there are so many top fighter matches in the division right now.

[thehughes1]

I'm down to drink the Jon Jones Kool Aid. He reminds me of a Rumble Johnson, in that he is a very solid explosive wrestler with some impressive striking. He is still raw though, and there is no reason to feed him to the sharks yet, especially since there are so many top fighter matches in the division right now.

They should feed him all the losers from the last season of TUF, like Tom Lawler and Kyle Kingsbury.

[BigTed]

Dude had potential, I think with a few more fights, and more higher level training partners/ training camp, he could be something big someday.

[Lefty]

At only 21, Jones is a force in the making. Bonnar's no pushover, and showed heart in coming back at the end. Jones' wrestling and takedowns are sick. He could be the best , and definitely the most unorthodox, takedown man at 205.

At first I thought that spinning elbow was a very risky move. I never thought he'd land it against Bonnar.

I enjoyed watching Jon fight. I still wonder how he'll be on his back.

[thehughes1]

Jones did a bunch of stuff that I was surprised worked, but he sure looked awesome doing it.

[ilostmydog]

Ridiculous takedowns.

http://i40.tinypic.com/11kximw.gif

http://i39.tinypic.com/28hn4gm.gif

http://i39.tinypic.com/elabrn.gif

[BruceLee]

http://i39.tinypic.com/28hn4gm.gif


Belly to Belly Suplex

War Pro Wrestling!

[Ash]

I think that belly to belly cost Stephan the fight. He was starting to turn the 2nd round around, perhaps to steal the round, and then Jones hits that sick suplex to solidify the round for him.

Oh Bonnar, why did you clinch with him so much? Or learn some takedown D? Or have a gameplan of any sort?

[ACIDBATHBELFORT]

I think that belly to belly cost Stephan the fight. He was starting to turn the 2nd round around, perhaps to steal the round, and then Jones hits that sick suplex to solidify the round for him.

Oh Bonnar, why did you clinch with him so much? Or learn some takedown D? Or have a gameplan of any sort?

No, Bonnar was not about to win the second round. It was right at the end of the round, Jones had already done more than enough to win the round. Bonnar clinched because he was getting beat in the stand up and knew he couldnt take Jones down. So he had to pick his poison so to speak.

[Ash]

It's called stealing a round, look it up sometime.

He wasn't getting beaten up in the stand-up. That was actually the only area of the fight he did reasonably okay in. Majority of Jones' strikes came off scrambles. When they'd actually engage standing, Bonnar did fine.

[BruceLee]

It's called stealing a round, look it up sometime.

He wasn't getting beaten up in the stand-up. That was actually the only area of the fight he did reasonably okay in. Majority of Jones' strikes came off scrambles. When they'd actually engage standing, Bonnar did fine.

I was disappointed that Bonnar didn't use his superior BJJ. That was the area he should have exploited.

[Ash]

I was disappointed that Bonnar didn't use his superior BJJ. That was the area he should have exploited.

Jones didn't really stay in his guard long enough for that to happen. Other than the triangle, there wasn't really many opportunities. Jones did a really good job of moving the fight around from standing to the ground, and using his speed in the scrambles. Also, Bonnar isn't really known for subbing guys off his back like some better JJ fighters, so I wasn't really expecting him to get it done that way.

[Cbear]

Belly to Belly Suplex

War Pro Wrestling!

Oh hell yeah, it was like he was channeling Kawada, Benoit, Guerrerro and Scott Steiner with is suplexes. Fun stuff. War rasslin!

[Takedown]

Jones tossed Bonnar around like a ragdoll. Jones’ throws and takedowns were nice. I especially loved the lateral drop. Jones’ has a bright future but has to work on his cardio.