MANILA, Philippines - Jon “Bones” Jones beat another former champion in Rashad Evans, scoring a unanimous decision to keep his light heavyweight crown in the Ultimate Fighting Championship 145 yesterday.
It was the 24-year-old Jones’ fourth successful title defense and 17th overall win against a loss, dominating Evans and winning in all three judges’ scorecards, 50-45, 49-46, 49-46.
Evans fell to 22-2-1 (win-loss-draw), ending up as the fourth former champion that Jones has beaten. The three others were Mauricio Rua at UFC 128, Rampage Jackson at UFC 135 and Lyoto Machida at UFC 150 last year.
Jones is now lined up against Dan Henderson, a multi-division champion and future Hall-of-Famer who owns an impressive record of 29-8, including a victory over Rua at UFC 139 last November.
Jones also defeated and shattered the cheekbone of Fil-Am Brandon Vera on UFC two years ago.
The fight was not as exciting as it was hyped up but Jones said he was just too happy to beat his former training partner Evans.
“It’s definitely my most satisfying victory,” said Jones after the fight. “I did a lot of things I didn’t plan. I didn’t want to make any mistakes. I didn’t feel the cleanest, but who I beat, it was very important to me.”