So when Bones beats Rashad.....

Whats next? I mean if/when he wins, he has basically decimated the LHW division.

I think if a fight wont materialize with Anderson, Id loooove to see him in the HW division.

Thoughts?

 

It would make sense but Silva-GSP might still be a bigger money maker for the UFC. (if things stay the same)

 

Hendo is still there wtf yo

 

Not with Condit and Diaz out there at 170 AND GSP coming back from knee surgery.

If GSP destroys Condit then I agree 100% that Silva-GSP is huge. But if GSP struggles with Condit but wins, the Silva fight loses much of it's appeal.

And since Condit will likely be GSP's first fight back from major knee surgery and almost 2 years out of the cage, it's a good bet he struggles with Carlos.

Back to Shoeshiner's question, I think Jones HAS to beat Dan Henderson after Rashad. Henderson was the Strikeforce LH champion. He came back to the UFC and beat Shogun, who was probably the second best LH in the world. Henderson has legitimately earned a shot.

I'm not saying Henderson can beat Jones, but it's the best fight in the division after Rashad.

 

I forgot about Hendo and guess he does deserve a shot.

Although I feel Bones runs right through him. Hendo is grossly overrated from beating an old/shot Fedor.

 

Henderson isn't highly rated just on his KO of Fedor. The dude beat a very legit Cavalcante in Strikeforce and then beat Rua in the UFC. The fact that he knocked out Fedor in between those fights only adds to his ranking.

Henderson is, and should be, rated as one of the Top 2 or 3 LH's on the planet right now. Other than Jones, I wouldn't make any other 205'er a favorite over Henderson. Rashad and Machida would be even money in my book and I'd probably lean toward's Dan's right hand and chin being the difference.

 

Hendo, who he will beat easily. Then it's up to HW for the real interesting fights.

 

I dont see Rafael as anything special and Hendo barely got by a fat Shogun with rubber knees.

Dont get me wrong, I love Hendo and what he has done, however he is old, slow and will be eaten alive by Bones even easier than he did Shogun.

 

Jones beats Henderson in my opinion but I honestly don't think Henderson gets beaten down like Rua did.

It would be another feather in Jones cap if he could be the first guy to stop Henderson with strikes.

 

The only reason I believe this is because Hendo is so much smaller and he has been getting dropped more recently as of late.

 

Yeah the next fight would have to be Hendo, just for that reason of Hendo beating Rua. And yes, Bones is too big, too athletic and too everything for Hendo.

But after Hendo, seriously, who? Is there anyone coming up the 205 ranks right now? What about Roy Nelson? Is there any more talk of him making the drop?

 

I'd like to see Moussasi come over and take on Jones after Henderson. Moussasi has really improved his take down defense since the Lawal fight and has always had solid kickboxing.

Plus Moussasi has never really been destroyed in MMA so that would be nice to see.

But am I the only one that doesn't see Evans as a cake walk. I think this will be a competitive fight that Evans COULD win. Evans has the best MMA wrestling that Jones has faced. And Rashad has really become a smart fighter since the Machida thrashing.

 

i also have a feeling that jones will struggle a bit in the early going, but once he thwarts rashad's td attempts, i think he'll dominate and win via stoppage.

don't really care to see the henderson fight. he sure deserves a shot at the winner, but just can't see henderson landing his right hand and once jones dictates the pace from distance, it's going to be a piece by piece breakdown probably followed by a rear-naked choke to end the fight.

 

Gotta disagree on Mousasi. Although I had high hopes for him, I came to realize that he was exposed as a very limited fighter. He drew with Jardine for Gods sake and his best win is against a shot to shit Babalu. He looked like shit agaist OSP too.

As far as Rashad goes, I can see him making it awkward for Jones in the begginning, but JBJ will wear him down and stop him via g&p later in the fight.

 

he beat the shit outta jardine but it was only a draw because of that point deduction from an illegal blow. but i agree, mousasi's poses zero threat to jones.

 

thats funny, I too was very high on Mousasi. I think he lacks a desire to be great. He seems very content in training, not really caring for the big matchups or titles. Very odd. But no, he would really have nothing for Jones. In fact, Mousasi should be a MW, but I think that goes back to not having the desire.

 

The dude couldn't even beat Keith Jardine!

 

anyone else going to the fight?

 

What Should Be Remembered is How COMPETITIVE & INTERESTING 205 USED to Seem, Prior to Bones Jones Winning the Title...Singlehandedly, Jones has Turned UFC's Most INTRIGUING Division Into Perhaps its LEAST Intriguing...




REED:Lok:

 

Bones will have to move to HW to challenge himself. He's unbeatable at 205.

 

seriously, didn't we all say that about Machida? And Rua?

 

Though SLIM, Rashad Definitely Has a CHANCE...Machida had Success Outstriking Jones, Early Doors...Rashad's a Very Good, HARD HITTING Striker in his Own Right AND he's Going to B as FAMILIAR w/Bones' Style as ANY Opponent has Ever Been...

Jones is Soooo DYNMAMIC that None of this will Likely Matter, but U Have to @ Least Give Rashad a CHANCE...




REED:dancingBaby:

 

Everyone can be beaten when you've got the little gloves.

I think there is a big dropoff after Rashad, though. Sure, Hendo is good, but he's old as dirt and has been beaten too many times to get excited about him vs Jones. Anderson is the only guy to get really excited about fighting Jones at 205 after Rashad, right now. If I were Anderson, I'd try to get that weigh in on the day of the fight, too. I don't think it's been established in any way that day-before weigh ins are necessary in mma. (at least not for health reasons)

 

I think Rashad has a great chance.

 

That's a GREAT Equalizer that REED Never Considered, in MMA...Not Only would it LEVEL the Playing Field in a Silva vs. Jones Match, but it'd Do LIKEWISE if/when GSP-Silva Came to Fruition...



REED:mj:

 

Hendo vs Jones is a really bad matchup. Jones has every physical advantage. Its basically the biggest/youngest guy in the division vs smallest/oldest.

 

I don't know man. Jon is very cocky and I bet he would stand with Hendo for quite a bit and you never know with that crazy old man right hand of his.

 

LOL.. That's kind of the story of Hendo's career. Yet there is something about that big right hand that levels the playing field.

And Jones has all the advantages except punching power. Amazingly, late in his career, Hendo has found ways to deliver that bomb against almost everyone he's faced.

Jones is a completely different animal though. It's not just that he's bigger. It's that he uses his range perfectly. Hendo would have a hell of a time penetrating.

But as I said, I don't give Henderson a chance to beat Jones. I'm just saying Jones can't leave 205 until he ACTUALLY beats the Strikeforce Champion.