• UFC 140

Jones struggling to keep calm ahead of Machida

ESPN staff
October 14, 2011
UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones is yet to lose his composure so far in his UFC career © Getty Images
Enlarge

UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones has confessed his desperation to meet Rashad Evans has made it difficult for him to maintain his usual composure ahead of his UFC 140 clash against Lyoto Machida.

Jones and Evans, former team-mates, have been scheduled to fight each other for some time, but several injuries have so far kept the duo apart. At UFC 140, Jones takes on Machida knowing victory is his ticket to a much anticipated encounter with Evans.

The champion's young career has so far been earmarked by his composure inside the Octagon, taking out both Mauricio Shogun Rua and Rampage Jackson this year. However, Jones admits he is struggling to stay calm knowing what is at stake against Machida.

"I realise what I could lose in losing the fight that's in front of me now," he said.

"As far as getting up for the Rashad fight, after all the drama that's gone on over the last year or so, it's a fight that I absolutely cannot lose.

"I'm actually taught to think of a fight as, 'No fight is a big fight.' But with Rashad, I'm really trying to teach myself, 'This is not a big fight, Jon.' It's a huge fight to me right now. I wouldn't want to lose either one of them. So as far as getting up for fights, I'm up."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices