Submission Underground 2 (SUG 2): Jon Jones vs. Dan Henderson

Jon Jones Hopes Chael Sonnen Can Put Up a Better Fight at SUG 3

Jon Jones Hopes Chael Sonnen Can Put Up a Better Fight at SUG 3

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is looking ahead to facing Chael Sonnen at SUG 3.

Dec 13, 2016 by Jim Edwards
Jon Jones Hopes Chael Sonnen Can Put Up a Better Fight at SUG 3
Jon Jones is back doing what he does best--winning.

On Sunday evening, Jones faced Dan Henderson in the main event of Submission Underground 2 in Portland, Oregon, and defeated him inside regulation time with an arm-triangle choke.

After the fight, Jones spoke to the media and had some kinds words to say about Henderson and his efforts.

"It was awesome to compete against a legend, and he was super, super strong," Jones said. "He was trying to keep it a wrestling match the whole time, but I was trying to get it to the ground because that's what I've been working on.

"Dan is ridiculously strong. I wasn't expecting how strong he was. He had my wrist at one point and kept literally trying to take my arm off. It was ridiculous."

Prior to the match, Jones and Henderson had engaged in a few not-so-complimentary verbal exchanges in the media. When asked about them, the former UFC light heavyweight champion refuted that they were in any way fabricated.

"I think it was just a mixture of both," Jones replied when asked if the talk was serious or just a bit of fun. "I think me and Dan just have our paths, and we definitely have strong feelings towards one another.

"Everything leading into this match was real, so I'm just happy we got to settle our differences inside of the octagon."

While admitting Henderson was strong, Jones said he'd pinpointed a weaknesses in his opponent's game in the leadup to the match and that he'd take full advantage of it when the opportunity arose on the night.

"He had brute strength, but one thing about strength is you got to be able to back it up with endurance," Jones said. "I assumed that he wouldn't have his cardio in the right place and at one point I saw that and just started hand fighting a little heavier and just getting on his head to submit him.

"After a while it worked and that arm-triangle I had wasn't fully locked in. With the pressure and the submission he tapped way before I expected him to so my assessment on his endurance worked out."

Having had his first taste of Submission Underground, Jones said it had further encouraged to seek out more opportunities to grapple competitively and that he was going to be an area he was going to focus on making improvements in.

"I'm really focusing on my overall game, but Jiu Jitsu is a part of the game I've always neglected it," Jones said. "Over the last few months, I've really been focusing hard on it with Gracie-Barra and Professor Alencar and I love it a lot.

"It's a big part of martial arts and I'm excited to take people down in the future and really let my presence be known about my top game and my bottom game."

After getting his first SUG win under his belt, Jones expressed in the cage just minutes after that he was game for being a part of the third installment on January 29. Speaking in the back again he reiterated the statement.

"What's next? I'm hoping Submission Underground 3," Jones said. "I'm looking forward to getting back to the gym and cleaning up my game even more. I know Chael Sonnen has a fight with Tito Ortiz, but I think up there this evening he agreed to go against me.

"I'm excited and I beat him up so fast the first time that I never got an idea for what he has. Hopefully he brings a little bit more to the rematch."

When asked if his callout of Sonnen was something he had planned before the event, Jones said it wasn't and that it was part of a much bigger plan.

"No--I just know that I want to be a part of this family," Jones said. "I knew that I wanted to fight MMA fighters. Eventually I'd like to challenge a guy who is a several time world champion and this is all he does, but for the minute I want to challenge MMA fighters--MMA fighters who can sell a fight so I can grow this company to what it wants to be.

"As I get my experience in this jiu-jitsu arena, eventually I'll start calling out some really dangerous competitors."