• UFC 126

Anderson Silva admits he is a fan of Jon Jones

ESPN staff
February 3, 2011
Jon Jones has been tipped to become as big as boxing legend Muhammad Ali © Getty Images
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Anderson Silva has added to the growing list of tributes being made to light-heavyweight starlet Jon Jones, admitting he likes to watch the 23-year-old fight.

Jones and Silva will appear on the same card at UFC 126 this weekend, with the former facing Ryan Bader before the latter defends his UFC middleweight title against Vitor Belfort.

The pair are arguably the two most flashy strikers in the UFC and have drawn plenty of comparisons, despite Jones basing his game on a Greco-Roman background, while Silva is deeply encamped in the art of Muay Thai.

Jones is expected to one day take on Silva's unofficial crown as the best pound-for-pounder in the world, with UFC chief Marshall Zelaznik recently hailing him as the "MMA fighter 3.0", while Octagon announcer Bruce Buffer predicted Jones would become as big as Muhammad Ali.

Now Silva, after learning that Jones bases his game on the Brazilian, has given ESPN his opinion on the UFC's brightest star.

"I like watching him fight," said the champion. "He's very exciting. And it is an honour when other fighters say they are inspired by you."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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