Jonathan D. Jones (born July 19, 1987) is an American mixed martial arts fighter. He currently fights as a light heavyweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and initially trained with Team BombSquad out of Cortland, New York, then briefly with the Tristar Gym in Montreal, Canada, and most recently started training at Jackson's Submission Fighting in Albuquerque, New Mexico.^[2]

Biography

Jones was born in Rochester, New York, though he was raised in Endicott, New York, and considers it to be his hometown.^[3] His two brothers, Arthur and Chandler, are defensive linemen at Syracuse University. After the 2008 season, Arthur made the All-Big East Conference First Team and was an All-America candidate.^[4] Jon was a 2005 state wrestling champion while a senior at Union-Endicott High School, and a national Junior College Champion at Iowa Central Community College where he earned his Associate's degree.^[5] Jones planned on getting a higher degree in Criminal Justice and pursuing a career in Law Enforcement, but after spending a semester in Morrisville State College,^[6] he signed a four-fight contract with the UFC, making him the youngest UFC fighter on roster at that time.^[7]

UFC career

Jones' debut UFC fight was against Andre Gusmao at UFC 87 on August 9, 2008. Jones took the fight on three weeks notice as a late replacement for Tomasz Drwal. He put on an impressive performance using takedowns and displayed some unorthodox striking, such as spinning elbows and a spinning back kick. Even though he came into the fight widely regarded as a heavy underdog, Jones was rewarded with a unanimous decision victory.^[8][9]

In his second fight, Jones fought veteran Stephan Bonnar at UFC 94 on January 31, 2009. Jones showed superior wrestling abilities and made Bonnar the victim of many strong takedowns and powerful throws including a suplex. Again showing unorthodox striking, Jones dropped Bonnar with a spinning back elbow in the first round. Although he appeared to tire in the third round, Jones held on to win another unanimous decision victory.^[10][11]

His third fight was against Jake O'Brien at UFC 100^[12] on July 11, 2009. Jones controlled the majority of the fight, preferring not to grapple and stuffing any takedown attempts from his opponent. Jones stayed on the outside, exercising his reach advantage and seemed to find his range toward the end of the first round with his right jab and high and low kicks. Midway through the second round Jones ducked and spun to deliver his trademark spinning back elbow which skimmed the top of O’Brien’s head and rocked him into immediately grappling to try and regain composure. Jones capitalized on the flustered state of O'Brien by taking his neck and locking in a modified guillotine choke which rendered his opponent unconscious even after he tapped.

On December 5, 2009 Jones faced off against fellow light heavyweight prospect Matt Hamill at The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights Finale. Despite completely dominating the fight, Jones was controversially^[13] disqualified for the use of an illegal elbow. During the fight Matt Hamill's shoulder was injured when he was taken down by Jon Jones. On the ground Jones dealt many blows, but in the sequence of blows Jones dealt that ended the fight he delivered two illegal elbow blows. Jones used the illegal 12-to-6 (Up and Down) method. He was deducted one point, but Hamill could not continue. It was thought that Jones had won the fight but it was announced that he was disqualified for the elbow.^[14][15] This also marked the first time that Nevada has used its recently-enacted instant replay rule, in which the referee's decision was supported by the commission, the head of the commission stated that Jones had indeed used 3 illegal elbows and due to the fact that they weren't accidental, but not ill-intended either, there was no disciplinary action taken nor was the fight ruled a no contest; instead a disqualification, as was first decided by the referee.^{[citation needed]}

Jones is scheduled to face Brandon Vera on March 31, 2010 at UFC on Versus 1: Vera vs. Jones.^[16]

Personal life

Jon is engaged and has a daughter named Leah, who was born on July 11, 2008. He believes that being in a committed relationship helps him stay focused on his training.^[3] The couple had their second daughter, Carmen Nicole Jones in December 2009.^[17]

Jones describes himself as a "hardcore Christian".^[18] Jones grew up a Pentecostal Christian and still describes himself as such.^[19]

Mixed martial arts record

Result	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location
		Hamill Brandon Vera		UFC on Versus 1: Vera vs. Jones	March 31, 2010			Broomfield, Colorado
Loss	9-1	Hamill Matt Hamill	DQ (Illegal Elbow)	UFC: The Ultimate Finale 10	December 5, 2009	1	4:14	Las Vegas, Nevada
Win	9-0	O'Brien Jake O'Brien	Submission (Modified Guillotine Choke )	UFC 100	July 11, 2009	2	2:43	Las Vegas, Nevada
Win	8-0	Bonnar Stephan Bonnar	Decision (Unanimous)	UFC 94: St-Pierre vs. Penn 2	January 31, 2009	3	5:00	Las Vegas, Nevada
Win	7-0	Gusmao Andre Gusmao	Decision (Unanimous)	UFC 87: Seek and Destroy	August 9, 2008	3	5:00	Minneapolis, Minnesota
Win	6-0	Gabin Moyses Gabin	TKO (Punches)	BCX 5 - Battle Cage Xtreme 5	July 12, 2008	2	1:58	Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	5-0	Porter Parker Porter	KO (Punch)	World Championship Fighting 3	June 20, 2008	1	0:36	Wilmington, Massachusetts
Win	4-0	Verrett Ryan Verrett	TKO (Punches)	USFL - War in the Woods 3	May 9, 2008	1	2:58	Ledyard, Connecticut
Win	3-0	Pina Anthony Pina	Submission (Guillotine Choke)	IF - Ice Fighter	April 25, 2008	1	1:15	Worcester, Massachusetts
Win	2-0	Eduardo Carlos Eduardo	KO (Punches)	BCX 4 - Battle Cage Xtreme 4	April 19, 2008	3	0:24	Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	1-0	Bernard Brad Bernard	TKO (Punches)	FFP - Untamed 20	April 12, 2008	1	1:32	Foxborough, Massachusetts

References

External links

• Professional MMA record for Jon Jones from Sherdog