Jon Jones on Vitor Belfort
Vitor Belfort conducts an open workout at the Jaco Hybrid Training Center in Delray Beach, Fla. (Sept. 17, 2012) Credit: Getty
Since March 19, 2011, Jon Jones has fought either champions or former champions. Monster after monster, and he has beat them all so far. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. Lyoto Machida. Rashad Evans.
Each of those opponents presented their own unique challenges, things Jones (16-1, 10-1 UFC) had yet to encounter in his relatively young MMA career. With Shogun, it was his kicks and Muay Thai. With Rampage, it was the pure power. Machida had the speed and all those other things that make Machida Machida. Evans had the familiarity.
So, with Jones' fourth title defense this Saturday at UFC 152, what does opponent Vitor Belfort (pictured) offer that he has yet to encounter?
“The mixture between speed and power," Jones told Newsday. "Lyoto Machida I thought could have been the fastest guy. Lyoto has some great power, but Vitor has speed and power and it’s coming from two different sides.”
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