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'Bones' coach: Rashad Evans came 'within inches' of knocking out Jon Jones

4K views 22 replies 14 participants last post by  michelangelo 
#1 ·

After the dust settled in the main event between current Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight champion Jon Jones and former training partner turned bitter rival, Rashad Evans, at UFC 145 on April 21, 2012, "Bones" had proved his dominance yet again, earning a unanimous decision victory over "Suga."

The win marked his seventh straight and third consecutive title defense since earning the 205-pound title in March 2011.

Though Evans undoubtedly gave the young star his toughest test to date, taking him to the unchartered waters of going a deep 25 minutes, the bout, for the most part, was a one-side affair. Jones used his reach to keep his foe at bay and fended off any offensive attacks from the former light heavyweight kingpin, never coming close to any danger.

At least, that's the way what it appeared to the untrained eye of the spectator.

According to Jones' striking coach, Mike Winkeljohn over at Jackson-Winkeljohn Mixed martial Arts in Albuquerque, N.M., Evans came "within inches" of turning his star pupil's lights out. He would know, after all, Winkeljohn did serve as Evans' striking coach during his rise to glory whilst he was a student of his down in the 505.

Make the jump to hear from "Wink" himself via Prickley Pair Studios:



"Jon stood to still too much and got hit by it (overhand right). Close to finishing the fight. It could have been, within inches, a little more snap of the hips to snap the chin down and cause that much more pain that would have put Jon out. So we got away with that one. And same thing with the head kick. The Sean Salmon head kick that I worked with Rashad on so much. Jon got right in that space, leaned in and Rashad kicked him in the head. Other than those two moments Jon pretty much owned the fight, and so I was really happy with that."
Winkeljohn also says that he had some nice words with his former student, Evans, after the bout, but things would not be the way they used to be, seeing that the competitor in Rashad is certain he will get another crack at dethroning Jones down the road.

Meanwhile, "Bones" will next face former PRIDE FC Middleweight and Welterweight champion and former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight champion, Dan Henderson, later this year as he attempts to defends his title for the fourth time.

Source

Now, wouldn't that be sweet? :thumb02:
 
#2 ·
Without getting into too much debate...like I said JBJ owns everybody, but he has been susceptible to hits; Bonnar, especially Machida, and Rashad. There are some holes and very small openings which can be capitalized on in the future. In other words his defense isn't his head movement or footwork as it's his height and reach. He doesn't have the RJJ, Mayweather or Anderson reflexes, but it's irrelevant at the moment cuz he's whipping everyones' ass. Juss sayin...
 
#3 ·
Without getting into too much debate...like I said JBJ owns everybody, but he has been susceptible to hits; Bonnar, especially Machida, and Rashad. There are some holes and very small openings which can be capitalized on in the future. In other words his defense isn't his head movement or footwork as it's his height and reach. He doesn't have the RJJ, Mayweather or Anderson reflexes, but it's irrelevant at the moment cuz he's whipping everyones' ass. Juss sayin...
Yeah, but he has Dhalsim's arms and legs, so i'm sure he's pretty content with that!
 
#4 ·
Yep he is Dhalsim indeed...yoga knee! The only way it's going to work is if he gets taken off guard OR if someone strikes simultaneously knowing they'll take a blow to inflict one on him. Only Rampage and Hendo are crazy enough to do that...oh and Shogun. It pretty much has to be picture perfect. IE: JBJ going for a flying knee and Hendo going for the H-bomb.

I mean if JBJ loses great, but if Hendo gets KOed that'll also be great. I've never seen an MMA fighter go through the wars he has and not get hurt. Seriously he took blows from Wand x 2, Vitor Belfort, Rampage, Shogun, Fedor, Anderson Silva etc. He just doesn't go down. Even Hunt and Rampage have been KOed before. Hendo's the only one with a titanium jawbone.
 
#5 · (Edited)
I find the wording amusing. It's like Chris Paul coming within inches of making that game winning shot the other day instead of going to overtime.

That said, Jones' striking defense isn't great, but it's still improving along with the rest of his game. Winklejohn is the shiznit.

ETA: I want to see Bones spar with Dodson. That would be the best physical comedy since Danny Kaye.
 
#6 ·
Not too much to look into. Bones doesn't like getting hit, but so what? He's never been KO'd and doesn't want to know the feeling. If anything, maybe his coaches just want him to be more careful with his striking and not get caught when trying something wild. Still think JBJ should've tried some takedowns as I thought he'd have a chance at being able to ragdoll Rashad.
 
#8 ·
I read that as 'there were only two chances at all the entire fight that JBJ was in trouble'. If we go look at other fights I am sure we can point out 50 - 100 punches or kicks where a little more power or an inch up or down and the fight is over. So working from a perfectionist point of view he is right, but from a realistic point of view it means that in 25 minutes you may get only one or two chances at all to beat JBJ and to do it you have to be flawless/perfect to do so.

Have fun 205'ers!
 
#10 ·
This. Hes mentioning it for JBJs benefit, to make him more aware. I recall the overhand right, it would of knocked him out I think, IF it hit, but it didn't. JBJ did just enough, it was probably just a little close for comfort for Winklejohn.

Slightly off topic, if people say, why are you mentioning GSPs loss to Serra, it was so long ago, people really should stop mentioning Shaun Salmon. He was fat. And he got KO'd. Long time ago.
 
#11 ·
Do you know what is really going on here?

Well I'll be happy to fill you in: Winklejohn and Rashad are scheduled to appear together at a seminar at Renzo Gracie's in New York City, sponsored by Paradise Warrior Retreat, on June 9-10 (it was originally slated for May 5-6 but Rashad had to postpone for "medical reasons").

Winklejohn and Greg Jackson want to leave open the possibility of Rashad returning to their camp (note Rashad and Jackson's post-fight handshake at UFC 145) if and when Jon Jones is pressured into moving up to heavyweight.

And think about this: After Jones, who does Jackson have at 205?
 
#13 ·
That Rashad built that camp is a complete and total myth: It was actually "built" by a group of Brazilian fighters including the Villefort brothers, Jorge Santiago and JZ Cavalcante, who walked out on American Top Team in a temper tantrum over the new management group ATT was bringing in. This was all outlined in a thread one of Dan Lambert's underlings started on the UG around March 1st of last year. Rashad (and Mike van Arsdale) did not arrive on the scene until about three weeks later.
 
#15 ·
You're not the only one: Indeed, unless he moves down to 185 I see Rashad having a complete and thoroughgoing meltdown, much like the ones Jens Pulver and Ken Shamrock had after they lost their epic grudge matches to BJ and Tito, respectively; and even if Rashad does go down to 185, I see him doing no better than Wanderlei Silva has done since he moved down - after losing his grudge match to Rampage at UFC 92.
 
#19 ·
Pretty much every losing fighter was "a couple inches" from KOing his opponent. That's usually all that seperates a missed strike from the other guys head. And as for Rashads camp, how long is that epic win streak currently held by them?
 
#23 ·
LOL! Here's a hilarious butt hurt neg rep comment left by a Dan Hendo nuthugger:

"I just want to neg you every chance I get... because you're an un-educated douche bag without a shred of common sense. Go stick to things that you probably do well... like taking welfare from the government or working your minimum wage job."

Seriously, some of you losers need to get a life aside from masturbating to posters of your favorite fighters. :)
 
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