Submission Underground 2 (SUG 2): Jon Jones vs. Dan HendersonNov 19, 2016 by Jeremy Botter
SUG 2: The Top 5 Jon Jones Submissions
SUG 2: The Top 5 Jon Jones Submissions
UFC legend Jon Jones faces Dan Henderson in the main event of Submission Underground 2 on December 11.
By Jim Edwards
In a massive announcement this past week, it was revealed that Jon Jones will headline Submission Underground 2 opposite another mixed martial arts legend Dan Henderson in an eight-minute grappling match.
Jones is considered by many as the pound-for-pound best mixed martial artist of all time, but given his array of talent in the standup and striking aspects of his game, his grappling and submission skills can often be overlooked.
Despite technically being a BJJ white belt, Jones holds a number of impressive submission victories in his career so far. Here are what we consider to be his five most impressive.
Having won his first two professional MMA bouts via KO/TKO, Jones added his first submission victory to his career record with a slick guillotine choke of Anthony Pina at Ice Fighter in April 2008.
Despite being in only his third professional contest, Jones showed experience beyond his years as he disposed of Pina in just 75 seconds.
The finish came when Jones dropped Pina with a slick combination on the feet and dropped him to the mat. Jones then easily passed Pina's guard where he worked into full mount to get the guillotine choke submission for the tap for his first ever submission victory in his professional career.
Sep 21, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Jon Jones enters the octagon before his fight against Alexander Gustafsson (not pictured) during their light heavyweight championship bout at UFC 165 at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
After signing with the UFC, Jones debuted against Jake O'Brien at the infamous UFC 100 card in July 2009.
This fight was a perfect example of Jones utilizing his reach advantage to its full potential. O'Brien expended a lot of energy desperately trying to take Jones in the first round, but after multiple stuffed takedown attempts, Jones began to find his range and pick away at him with some stiff jabs and low kicks.
Midway through the second round, Jones delivered one of his signature back-elbows that struck O'Brien flush on the top his head. With O'Brien down, Jones locked on a slick modified guillotine choke which rendered O'Brien briefly unconscious just seconds after he tapped. It was a devastating finish and a sign of things to come from Jones in the next few years.
Jones came into this February 2011 fight with Ryan Bader a strong favorite with the oddsmakers, but the way Bader was disposed by Jones established him as one of the most complete mixed martial artists in the UFC light heavyweight division.
Much of the talk heading into the fight centered around how Jones would be able to deal with Bader's elite wrestling and takedowns. That question was quickly answered in the first round when Jones was the one who managed to take Bader to the mat, pinning his shoulders to the canvas, and narrowly missing out on an unorthodox choke after working into side control.
Apr 21, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; Jon Jones before fighting Rashad Evans in the main event and light heavyweight title bout during UFC 145 at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Paul Abell-USA TODAY Sports
Bader managed to make it to his feet and keep the fight standing, but it soon became apparent he couldn't live with Jones there either.
After a round of eating Jones' leg kicks and jab, Bader was taken down again and submitted via guillotine choke. This was one of first demonstrations of Jones' elite grappling being put to the test against one of the best wrestlers in the UFC.
No other fight on Jones' record has shown his all-round elite ground game more so than this victory against Vitor Belfort at UFC 152 in September 2012.
Midway through the first round, Belfort locked on a tight armbar and looked like he was going to pull off the shock victory as he cranked Jones' arm totally straight. Somehow, despite his arm being severely damaged, Jones wriggled free and proceeded to continue working in Belfort's guard as the Brazilian relentlessly searched for submissions.
Sep 22, 2012; Toronto, ON, Canada; UFC fighter Jon Jones (top) against fighter Vitor Belfort during a light heavyweight bout at UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
For the next three rounds this pattern continued as Jones took Belfort down and worked in his guard, landing vicious elbows and avoiding submissions. The finish came when Jones finally got to an advantageous position and locked in an americana to get the tap.
Jones picked up a $65,000 check for getting the submission of the night.
At UFC 140, Jones was expected to face Rashad Evans, however, an injury to the challenger meant former champion Lyoto Machida stepped up as a replacement on the December 2011 card.
The Brazilian had success early on and looked as if he had the measure of Jones on the feet. Machida used his movement to catch Jones multiple times. During the first round, he even managed to stagger Jones like no one had ever seen before.
It looked like Jones had met his match midway through the second round, but after managing to take the fight to the mat, he landed a game-changing elbow that cut Machida badly. The Brazilian managed to get to his feet, but at this point it was obvious he was in big trouble.
Dec 10, 2011; Toronto, ON, Canada; UFC fighter Jon Jones (top) against fighter Lyoto Machida during a light heavyweight bout at UFC 140 at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
The two clinched up and Jones locked in a choke and then twisted Machida's head at an awkward-looking angle. The Brazilian was out cold. By the time referee John McCarthy could step in, Machida was in a crumpled heap on the mat.
It was one of the most brutal submissions in UFC history and will be replayed for years to come.
In a massive announcement this past week, it was revealed that Jon Jones will headline Submission Underground 2 opposite another mixed martial arts legend Dan Henderson in an eight-minute grappling match.
Jones is considered by many as the pound-for-pound best mixed martial artist of all time, but given his array of talent in the standup and striking aspects of his game, his grappling and submission skills can often be overlooked.
Despite technically being a BJJ white belt, Jones holds a number of impressive submission victories in his career so far. Here are what we consider to be his five most impressive.
5. Anthony Pina: Submission (guillotine choke), Ice Fighter
Having won his first two professional MMA bouts via KO/TKO, Jones added his first submission victory to his career record with a slick guillotine choke of Anthony Pina at Ice Fighter in April 2008.
Despite being in only his third professional contest, Jones showed experience beyond his years as he disposed of Pina in just 75 seconds.
The finish came when Jones dropped Pina with a slick combination on the feet and dropped him to the mat. Jones then easily passed Pina's guard where he worked into full mount to get the guillotine choke submission for the tap for his first ever submission victory in his professional career.
Sep 21, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Jon Jones enters the octagon before his fight against Alexander Gustafsson (not pictured) during their light heavyweight championship bout at UFC 165 at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
4. Jake O'Brien: Submission (guillotine choke), UFC 100
After signing with the UFC, Jones debuted against Jake O'Brien at the infamous UFC 100 card in July 2009.
This fight was a perfect example of Jones utilizing his reach advantage to its full potential. O'Brien expended a lot of energy desperately trying to take Jones in the first round, but after multiple stuffed takedown attempts, Jones began to find his range and pick away at him with some stiff jabs and low kicks.
Midway through the second round, Jones delivered one of his signature back-elbows that struck O'Brien flush on the top his head. With O'Brien down, Jones locked on a slick modified guillotine choke which rendered O'Brien briefly unconscious just seconds after he tapped. It was a devastating finish and a sign of things to come from Jones in the next few years.
3. Ryan Bader: Submission (guillotine choke), UFC 126
Jones came into this February 2011 fight with Ryan Bader a strong favorite with the oddsmakers, but the way Bader was disposed by Jones established him as one of the most complete mixed martial artists in the UFC light heavyweight division.
Much of the talk heading into the fight centered around how Jones would be able to deal with Bader's elite wrestling and takedowns. That question was quickly answered in the first round when Jones was the one who managed to take Bader to the mat, pinning his shoulders to the canvas, and narrowly missing out on an unorthodox choke after working into side control.
Apr 21, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; Jon Jones before fighting Rashad Evans in the main event and light heavyweight title bout during UFC 145 at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Paul Abell-USA TODAY Sports
Bader managed to make it to his feet and keep the fight standing, but it soon became apparent he couldn't live with Jones there either.
After a round of eating Jones' leg kicks and jab, Bader was taken down again and submitted via guillotine choke. This was one of first demonstrations of Jones' elite grappling being put to the test against one of the best wrestlers in the UFC.
2. Vitor Belfort: Submission (americana), UFC 152
No other fight on Jones' record has shown his all-round elite ground game more so than this victory against Vitor Belfort at UFC 152 in September 2012.
Midway through the first round, Belfort locked on a tight armbar and looked like he was going to pull off the shock victory as he cranked Jones' arm totally straight. Somehow, despite his arm being severely damaged, Jones wriggled free and proceeded to continue working in Belfort's guard as the Brazilian relentlessly searched for submissions.
Sep 22, 2012; Toronto, ON, Canada; UFC fighter Jon Jones (top) against fighter Vitor Belfort during a light heavyweight bout at UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
For the next three rounds this pattern continued as Jones took Belfort down and worked in his guard, landing vicious elbows and avoiding submissions. The finish came when Jones finally got to an advantageous position and locked in an americana to get the tap.
Jones picked up a $65,000 check for getting the submission of the night.
1. Lyoto Machida: Technical Submission (standing guillotine choke), UFC 140
At UFC 140, Jones was expected to face Rashad Evans, however, an injury to the challenger meant former champion Lyoto Machida stepped up as a replacement on the December 2011 card.
The Brazilian had success early on and looked as if he had the measure of Jones on the feet. Machida used his movement to catch Jones multiple times. During the first round, he even managed to stagger Jones like no one had ever seen before.
It looked like Jones had met his match midway through the second round, but after managing to take the fight to the mat, he landed a game-changing elbow that cut Machida badly. The Brazilian managed to get to his feet, but at this point it was obvious he was in big trouble.
Dec 10, 2011; Toronto, ON, Canada; UFC fighter Jon Jones (top) against fighter Lyoto Machida during a light heavyweight bout at UFC 140 at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
The two clinched up and Jones locked in a choke and then twisted Machida's head at an awkward-looking angle. The Brazilian was out cold. By the time referee John McCarthy could step in, Machida was in a crumpled heap on the mat.
It was one of the most brutal submissions in UFC history and will be replayed for years to come.