• UFC 135

Jon Jones will 'vacate' belt before Rampage fight

Jon Jones claims he will walk into the Octagon at UFC 135 not as a champion, but as a warrior attempting to fulfil his destiny.

Jones won the 205lb championship with an utterly dominant win over Mauricio Shogun Rua, a victory so one-sided that it sent tremors through the light-heavyweight division. Now he takes on Rampage Jackson, a former champion of the highest pedigree.

Rampage has previously claimed that Jones should never be champion, because the belt should not have been taken from his own grasp in 2008. Jackson claims he should never have been handed a decision loss to Forrest Griffin, who then lost the belt to Rashad Evans, before it passed through the hands of Lyoto Machida and Shogun to get to Jones.

"As a warrior, I think it's dangerous to become obsessed with belts and rank and stature," Jones said. "I think it's more about the lifestyle; when you're a fighter there is no destination.

"If I had the choice I probably wouldn't touch the belt before the fight. I probably won't. I beat Shogun, but it has nothing to do with beating Rampage.

"There is no champion in this fight. It's two guys fighting for a belt that nobody has won before. I'm destined to bring that belt home."

Jones, on paper, would appear to have a significant advantage on the mat against Jackson, who has challenged the Greg Jackson fighter to stand and trade. Jones, somewhat smartly, refused to accept that challenge.

"Who knows what will happen? I'm not going to say 'I won't take him down' to please the fans and give them a stand-up brawl," Jones said. "I can't control if I win or lose. All I can control is the process, and right now I'm beating the weaknesses within myself. So Rampage will be facing a very tough and motivated Jon Jones."

Rampage has accused Jones of being cocky ahead of the September 24 clash, telling the youngster he has forgotten his roots. Jones believes he has remained humble, but does not mind being viewed as confident in his own ability.

"If you don't think you're the best, and you see yourself getting beaten by somebody, then you're in the wrong game," said the champion. "A lot of athletes that made a mark long after they were gone were slightly arrogant. So if that's me, I'm not necessarily ashamed of it."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.