Facing hometown hero Jeremy Stephens at UFC Des Moines, Mason Jones understood he might not win over the crowd. However, he delivered a strong performance, ultimately relying on his grappling in the final round to clinch a decisive victory.
The British lightweight was willing to exchange heavy strikes with Stephens, with both fighters showing the effects afterward. Yet, it was Jones` constant pressure, high volume striking, and effective grappling at key moments that secured him a dominant shutout win, reflected in identical 30-27 scores from all three judges.
“I wanted to go out there and strike with him,” Jones said after the win. “He’s a legend. I’m sorry about that last round, I had to get the job done.”
Undeterred by facing Stephens in his home territory, Jones attacked with a varied striking arsenal, including head kicks and effective leg kicks. Stephens responded with powerful punches, notably landing a hard straight right that visibly affected Jones.
Despite being tested, Jones maintained relentless pressure, consistently landing diverse strikes. This continuous assault kept Stephens off-balance and limited his ability to mount significant offense.
Towards the end of the first round, Jones secured a takedown and threatened with a rear-naked choke, but Stephens successfully defended until the round concluded.
In the second round, Jones continued his momentum. Stephens, seeking a knockout, engaged in a brawl, throwing powerful hooks and uppercuts. Jones landed a notable spinning back elbow that opened a cut on Stephens` face, causing significant bleeding.
This seemed to ignite something in Stephens, who landed a massive punch that knocked Jones` mouthpiece out. Although Jones recovered quickly, he was forced to exercise caution due to Stephens` evident power and continued threat.
Recognizing his ground advantage, Jones immediately took the fight to the mat at the start of the third round, prompting loud boos from the home crowd. Despite Stephens` efforts to defend and escape, Jones maintained dominant top control and attempted a kimura submission, though he couldn`t secure it.
Whenever Stephens managed to stand, Jones quickly returned him to the ground, effectively controlling the final minutes. By the final horn, Jones` victory was clear, though Stephens showed resilience in his return bout.
In the post-fight interview, Jones expressed interest in fighting again in July, potentially in Saudi Arabia. Stephens, having signed a one-fight deal for his return in Iowa, is now free to consider his next steps.
Marcus Blakely