“I don’t care about how you feel about him… That’s a crazy thought that, through all that, all those dudes, three generations of players.” UFC veteran Daniel Cormier spoke last year about Jon Jones’ longest title reign in the promotion, with mixed emotions. Love him or hate him, ‘Bones’ has, throughout his 17-year career, carved his legacy in gold by slaying legends in their prime. Even before he finishes them, the reigning kingpin brings out a side of himself that makes every opponent fear him.
His rivalries, with the likes of Daniel Cormier, Dominick Reyes, and Quinton Jackson are a testament to the complex dynamic he shares with those he’s faced. Despite the negative opinions from those he has fought, Jones’ mindset has certainly earned him admiration. Recently, Rashad Evans, a former light heavyweight champion and a longtime rival of ‘Bones’, opened up about his feelings toward their rivalry. The two, once “brothers” and partners at Jackson Wink MMA gym became adversaries long before they fought at UFC 145 in 2012.
The Albuquerque native controlled every round of their fight, ultimately winning by unanimous decision. ‘Suga’ shared his thoughts during an interview on the ‘Overdogs Podcast,’ discussing the emotional weight of the fight. “I would say it was probably one of the biggest learning lessons for me because going into that fight, there was so much emotion. There was so much emotion going into that fight, you know? I was with Greg Jackson, and there was a sense of betrayal with the whole thing with them. You know, Greg and Mike Winkeljohn and I… I had to leave my New Mexican family. So, it was me having to give the same sound bites…it got to the point where that personal aspect of it just drained me”
Madison Square Garden NEW YORK CITY, NY -NOVEMBER 16:Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic meet in the octagon for a 3-round bout for UFC309 – Jones vs Miocic at Madison Square Garden on November 16, 2024 in New York City, NY Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages Louis Grasse / SPP PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxBRAxMEX Copyright: xLouisxGrassex/xSPPx spp-en-LoGr-lrg2411164283824_UFCVegas309
Betrayal fuels the feud between Rashad Evans and Jon Jones. As said before, the two first crossed paths at Jackson Win MMA gym in Albuquerque, where they trained together and developed a strong bond, considering themselves a “New Mexican family.” However, the relationship took a turn when ‘Suga’ was set to fight the then-champion Mauricio Rua. An injury forced the Floridian out of the bout, and the 23-year-old ‘Bones’ stepped in to claim the title at UFC 128.
The true breaking point came when Jones openly stated his willingness to fight Rashad Evans if the promotion requested it. This statement shocked many, as it was the first time a teammate had openly challenged another. To make matters worse, Greg Jackson sided with ‘Bones’, leaving ‘Suga’ feeling betrayed and abandoned. Despite their turbulent past, however, the two are now on good terms, often sharing mutual respect and admiration for each other.
Jon Jones opened up about the opponent who hurt him the most
It wasn’t Daniel Cormier nor Dominick Reyes who delivered Jon Jones’ most memorable punch. That honor goes to former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans. Suga’, once a dominant force in the UFC’s 205-pound division, made his debut in the promotion via the second season of ‘The Ultimate Fighter.’ He quickly established himself as a tough competitor, taking down well-known fighters like Michael Bisping and Chuck Liddell.
His hard work paid off in 2008 when he knocked out Forrest Griffin to become the light heavyweight champion. Though Evans couldn’t successfully defend his title, he always gave opponents a tough challenge. Jon Jones faced one of Rashad Evans’ most powerful punches when the two met at UFC 145. By then,’ Bones’ had already defended his title successfully against Quinton Jackson and Lyoto Machida. But the former champ was no easy task. He didn’t back down from Jones’ knockouts or submissions, pushing the champion for all five rounds.
In the end, the Albuquerque native walked away with the victory, but the rivalry between the two only deepened. Earlier this year, Jones sat down with TalkSPORT and revealed who had delivered the hardest punch he had ever received. 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. Moreover, 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. He hit me so fast, and I had no clue what it was.”
What’s your take on the legendary rivalry between Jon Jones and Rashad Evans? Do you believe Coach Greg Jackson and the gym played a bigger role in the perceived betrayal than ‘Bones’ himself? Share your thoughts below.
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