Sherdog’s Top 10: Brutal Beatdowns

Jon Jones took the UFC light heavyweight crown by force. | Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com

5. Jon Jones vs. Mauricio Rua
March 19, 2011
At UFC 126 in February 2011, rising superstar Jones dominated Ryan Bader for the better part of two rounds before the All-American wrestler tapped to a guillotine choke. During the post-fight interview, color commentator Joe Rogan informed Jones that Rashad Evans was out of an upcoming title fight with Mauricio Rua due to a knee injury, and that “Bones” would be getting the shot instead.

The betting public immediately jumped behind Jones, pegging him as a 2-to-1 favorite over the champion at UFC 128. The soundness of this reasoning was apparent from the very beginning of the fight, as Jones nailed Rua with a flying knee in the opening seconds. He did not let up, slamming the champion to the ground less than 30 seconds in and blasting him from top position with punches, elbows and head butts to the body. When “Shogun” finally made it back to his feet, Jones flurried against the fence, wobbled him and took him down again before the end of the round.

Round two was no better for Rua. Jones hit a spinning elbow against the fence and then landed punches, kicks, elbows and knees before catching a kick and taking the Brazilian to the ground once again. Bloodied and swollen in the face, “Shogun” staggered back to his corner, where he found no answers to his woes. The third round was even worse, as Jones controlled him from the top, landed hard shots and nearly finished him from inside the guard. “Shogun” somehow got back to his feet, but it took only a liver shot and knee to put him down to stay.

It was an emphatic way for Jones to crown himself as the 205-pound kingpin, and it marked the start of a long and violent reign at the top.

Number 4 » Silva vs. Franklin