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Jon Jones has rightfully carved his place in MMA history. The now 36-year-old athlete has beaten the best during his career and is currently the UFC’s Heavyweight Champion. Nicknamed ‘Bones’, the UFC champion has famously been referred to as one of the most dangerous fighters on the planet. His skill and fighting prowess have earned him recognition from some of the greatest in the game. In that list of admirers is Joe Rogan.

Terrell Owens holding Dude Wipes XL

In a recent interview with Terence Crawford, the podcaster and immensely popular UFC commentator took a moment to recognize one of ‘Bones’s historical moments. The discussion with the undisputed Welterweight boxing champion saw Rogan speak volumes about Jones’ feats in the Octagon. He recalled one particular incident from more than a decade ago that defined ‘Bones’s superiority in his mind.

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Joe Rogan details a more than decade-old crazy Jon Jones stunt

While talking about managing a fighter’s career Rogan said, “It’s calculated. And you get lessons from each fight and then you build up to a point where you’re ready to challenge for a title”. In contrast to his statement, Rogan brought up Jon Jones’ name. He used the Heavyweight champion’s name as an exception. He continued, “Jon Jones fought for the title when he was 22. I mean, it was a last-minute fight. Rashad Evans got hurt and Jon Jones went in to fight Shogun. Jon was just so f**king talented, so above everybody else that he dominated that fight and walked away the world champion and destroyed Shogun.

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Joe Rogan then recollected the moment that truly shook him. He elaborated, “He opened up the fight with a flying knee.” The UFC commentator reiterated his disbelief. He expressed his amazement at the then 22-year-old Jones’ treatment of a title bout. He continued, “22 years old, first title fight, opens up with a flying knee. Who the f**k does that?”. Rogan went on to differentiate ‘Bones’ from everybody else and said, “Nobody does. Everybody would be nervous.

Recalling history: The youngest UFC champion Jon Jones

The fight that truly redefined Jon Jones’ presence in the fighting scene took place on the 20th of March 2011. The title bout saw a young Jones face off against Maurício Rua aka ‘Shogun’. Jones was a last-minute replacement for Rashad Evans who was supposed to be ‘Shogun’s opponent initially. The fight saw Jones make light work of the then Lightweight champion. After dominating rounds one through two, Jones drew the fight to a close in the third.

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Read More: “It Was Such an Awful…”: Despite Jon Jones’ Stunner at UFC 285, Heavyweight Champ’s Ex-Opponent Drops Scathing Criticism on ‘Bones’ Performance

The third round saw ‘Shogun’ fall to a devastating onslaught by ‘Bones’. The referee stepped in and a win by TKO was awarded to Jones. The win made an important part of UFC history as it crowned Jones the youngest UFC champion in the history of the company, a record that still stands. Jones’ exceptional skill is highlighted in how he became the sole exception to Rogan’s theory of how a fighter’s career should proceed. Fans will look forward to seeing the champion in action once again, as he defends his Heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic this November.

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Watch This Story: Despite his controversial past, UFC HW champ Jon Jones poses with fans having his mugshot on his t-shirt

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Rajdeep Jayan

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Rajdeep Jayan is a UFC writer at EssentiallySports. Rajdeep was inculcated into the world of combat sports through his love for Sylvester Stallone's iconic character, the 'Italian Stallion,' Rocky Balboa. His early obsession with the genre was recently rekindled by the debates he would engage in with his roommate during his college days.

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Edited by

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Yeswanth Praveen

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