By TXMMA Staff | Photos: UFC.com, Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Jon Jones put to the test in five-round war with Alexander Gustafsson
Prior to the bout Jones had run the gamut, defeating all comers including former champs Vitor Belfort, Rashad Evans, Quinton Jackson, and Mauricio Shogun Rua. It was expected to be more of the same in this latest defense but instead it was the Mason “The Line” Dixon moment (Rocky Balboa reference) for the confident champion.
“I’ve been asking for a dog fight for a long time, and I finally got that dog fight I’ve been asking for,” Jones said after the five-round championship bout.
Alexander Gustafasson gave him all he had, bloodying the champion’s face and swelling his lip before dropping a unanimous decision.
In the first round Jones was unable to take him down at will like he had his prior opponents and in fact was taken down himself, a first in 13 UFC fights. Both fighters had their moments as they tried to measure their reach and land the big strikes. The second round was more of the same with both guys exchanging some solid blows. By the third, Jones’ face started showing some heavy signs of wear from Gustaffson’s timely counters but he was also returning plenty of his own offense. By the championship rounds it was anybody’s fights depending on judges’ interpretation. Jones did well to press towards the end of the fourth round, firing off a spinning elbow that landed flush on the Swede’s forehead, staggering him. That was the closest the fight came to being finished but Gustafson was saved by the bell. In the fifth and decisive round Jones finally got his first takedown while both fighters pressed hard to finish the fight but neither did. Ultimately all three judges saw the fight for the champion with scores of 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46 but this one will definitely be debated for a while, perhaps all the way to what would be a justified rematch.
Renan Barao retains 135 lbs. title; Schaub wins by submission and more
As reported prior to the bout, fellow champion Dominick Cruz has an hourglass running on his return after a two-year hiatus due to injury. If he cannot return soon to face Barao, the bantamweight belt aroun the Brazilian’s waist would lose its interim status and Barao would be the sole man at the top of the mountain in the bantamweight division.
Also scoring a notable win at UFC 165 was oft-criticized Brendan Schaub. Fighting for the first time since his highly-criticized performance in the grappling superfight event Metamoris Po II, Schaub did his best to silence his detractors with a first-round submission victory over fellow NFL veteran Matt Mitrione – putting “Meathead” to sleep with a slick D’Arce choke four minutes into the bout.
The UFC 165 PPV card was rounded off by unanimous decision wins by Francis Carmont and Khabib Nurmagomedov over Constantinos Philippou and Pat Healy respectively.
See below for the complete results from UFC 165 on September 21, 2013.
UFC 165 Results – Main Card
Jon Jones over Alexander Gustafsson by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 49-46)
Champ Renan Barao over Eddie Wineland by TKO (kick, punches) – RD2, 0:35
Brendan Schaub over Matt Mitrione by submission (D’Arce choke) – RD1, 4:06
Francis Carmont over Constantinos Philippou by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Khabib Nurmagomedov over Pat Healy by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
UFC 165 Results – Preliminary Card
Myles Jury over Mike Ricci by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Wilson Reis over Ivan Menjivar by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28
Stephen Thompson over Chris Clements by KO (punches) – RD2, 1:27
Mitch Gagnon over Dustin Kimura by submission (guillotine choke) – RD1, 4:05
John Makdessi over Renee Forte by KO (punches) – RD1, 2:01
Michel Prazeres over Jesse Ronson by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Alex Caceres over Roland Delorme by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Daniel Omielanczuk over Nandor Guelmino by KO (punches) – RD3, 3:18