• UFC 128

Jones will be inside Shogun's head at UFC 128

ESPN staff
March 15, 2011
Jon Jones appears to know exactly how Saturday's fight with Mauricio Shogun Rua at UFC 128 will go © Getty Images
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Jon Jones claims he has a massive advantage over Mauricio Shogun Rua at UFC 128, because he has spent months mimicking the Brazilian in training.

Jones initially played the role of Rua in sparring in order to help team-mate Rashad Evans prepare for his title shot at the Brazilian. However, Evans' knee injury propelled Jones into the No. 1 contender's spot, which could prove a significant turn of events.

Having spent months mimicking Shogun's footwork, timing, and ground game, Jones claims he probably knows the UFC light-heavyweight champion better than he knows himself.

"It will help me a lot," Jones told ESPN. "I have watched a lot of Shogun's fights, and I have seen a lot of his tendencies, a lot of things that he's been doing since his Pride days - in his jiu-jitsu part, in his bottom game, in his striking game. I see a lot.

"While I was preparing Rashad, I was mimicking Shogun: his stance, his steps, his punches and kicks that he throws the most, the hand that he uses the most.

"I've been watching the guy too, since I was young. I've really started to understand what he throws and why he throws it. And we will see that when I come out there: a calm, a sense of knowing what I'm into and what I'm doing. I'm really excited."

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