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

Published 06/16/2023, 8:09 AM EDT

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In a breathtaking comeback at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Jon Jones took center stage after a three-year hiatus. Stepping up in weight class and making his heavyweight debut, he delivered an awe-inspiring performance against Ciryl Gane. Right from the opening round, Jones showcased his dominance, culminating in a submission victory that crowned him the new UFC heavyweight champion.

The performance of ‘Jonny Bones’ not only electrified the audience but also earned him a great deal of applause from fans and fellow fighters alike. The event became an overwhelming success, as spectators marveled at Jones’ triumphant return and his seamless transition into the heavyweight division. However, amidst the praises showered upon Jones, one of his former opponents expressed disappointment. It seems that ‘Jonny Bones’ failed to meet the expectations of this particular fighter, who anticipated a more challenging bout between Jones and Gane.

Jon Jones criticized for his quickness

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The UFC light heavyweight stalwart, Anthony Smith, engaged in a candid conversation with former UFC fighter Brendan Schaub, delving into the recent events of the MMA world. As their discussion unfolded, the spotlight turned to the much-anticipated fight between Jon Jones and Ciryl Gane.

Reflecting on the matchup, Smith expressed his thoughts, saying, “It’s really tough because we didn’t see a lot of Jon. Like, it was such an awful sample size.”

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Having previously fought Jones, the 34-year-old MMA fighter expected to witness more from the heavyweight debutant in the octagon. He remarked, “He didn’t seem to move as well, and he didn’t seem as fast… Who knows what Jon looks like over 25 minutes? That was the sh*ttiest part. I didn’t care who won. I wanted to see Ciryl Gane push Jon striking and have his bouncing in and out style and force Jon to chase him. Just to see how Jon moves.”

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Since claiming the heavyweight title, there has been a conspicuous absence of official news regarding Jon Jones’ next fight. However, strong rumors have emerged of a potential clash with the heavyweight royalty, Stipe Miocic. Yet, this matchup finds itself facing numerous obstacles and being jeopardized at every turn.

Further, Jones also went back-and-forth with boxing legend Tyson Fury. Combat fans has been excited to see what move Jones makes next.

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Do you think Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic will happen? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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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Written by:

Mayur Soni

906Articles

One take at a time

Mayur Soni is a UFC writer at EssentiallySports. His journey as an MMA fan started with Conor McGregor’s historic 13-second knockout of Jose Aldo in 2015, which sparked his love for the sport. Since then, he has closely followed the sport and gained an in-depth understanding of its nuances, which reflects in his insightful and analytical writing.
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Edited by:

Rohini Kottu