Jones ready to defend title at UFC 135

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DENVER — UFC light heavyweight champion Jon (Bones) Jones always envisioned himself fighting crime, not competitors.

A wrestler in college, Jones had his heart set on a law enforcement career once he finished his degree. But having a young family led to a career change.

Always a mixed martial arts fan from his days of watching the bouts with his roommates, and needing to make some extra cash, Jones decided to pursue that path.

In March, Jones (13-1) became the youngest champion in UFC history. Now, he will put his title on the line against Quinton (Rampage) Jackson (32-8) at UFC 135 in Denver on Sept. 24.

Jones, who turned 24 on Tuesday, has a tough assignment as Jackson desperately wants his title back, the one he surrendered to Forrest Griffin in 2008.

The charismatic Jackson even plans to relocate his entire training team to the Mile High City this month to get acclimated to the higher altitude.

Not only that, but he’s turning his back on the silver screen in an effort to capture the gold belt again.

Known for his role as B.A. Baracus in the 2010 blockbuster big-screen version of “The A-Team,” Jackson has recently passed on numerous roles in upcoming films. He wants his attention trained on becoming a star in the ring instead of Hollywood.

“I’m a fighter. This is my job. This is what I do,” Jackson said. “My fighting career is definitely ahead of my acting career.”

Still, some of his detractors have suggested his dabbling in movies has caused his career to slip.

In 2007, Jackson unified the UFC and Pride 205-pound titles with a unanimous decision over Dan Henderson. In his next UFC fight, he lost his crown to Griffin.

Ever since, the 33-year-old Jackson has been trying to get another shot. He’s won his last two bouts to earn the right to face the younger Jones, who boasts the longest reach of any fighter in the UFC.

“He’s going to be a great opponent,” Jackson said. “I have nothing bad to say about his skills.”

That’s the thing: There’s no animosity between these two, no bitterness.

They respect each other.

Even their digs at a news conference Tuesday were far more humorous than hostile. Like when Jackson downplayed the significance of Jones beating Mauricio (Shogun) Rua for the title four months ago.

“I respect you, dog,” Jackson said. “I do think you’re the future of MMA, straight up, keeping it real. But ‘Shogun’ was rusted. He was coming off of injuries, hadn’t fought for a year.”

Jones simply shrugged.

“There will always be excuses, like, ‘You didn’t fight the Pride Rampage, you fought the movie star Rampage,”‘ Jones countered, eliciting snickers from the crowd who showed up for the event.

Jackson: “You’re right. There will always be excuses. I got like three excuses for every time I lost.”

Jones: “Thinking of anything good now?”

Jackson: “I ain’t going to need no excuses after this fight. You’re going to need a bunch of them.”

See, pretty tame and hardly testy. UFC president Dana White did more observing than mediating as he stood in between the two fighters, one who’s on the verge of being the face of White’s lucrative franchise.

“A win over Rampage Jackson will definitely put Jon Jones on the right track for becoming the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world,” White said.

Jones comes from a football background. His older brother, Arthur, is a defensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens while his younger brother, Chandler, plays for defensive end at Syracuse.

But that sport just wasn’t for him.

“Wasn’t the most athletically gifted when it came to catching a pass,” Jones said, grinning.

He excelled on the mat, though, and attended Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, becoming a national champion at 197 pounds in 2006.

Around that time, he started his family and launched his MMA career.

“Blessings in disguise,” said Jones, who was contemplating going to nearby Iowa State to major in criminal justice.

He’s facing a much more seasoned fighter in Jackson, who’s beaten some of the sport’s biggest names such as Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva.

“I try not to fight people’s big names or their credentials, just try to fight their body,” said Jones, who trains in the high elevation of Albuquerque, N.M. “He’s older and very successful. I think MMA is a sport for the hungry man.”

Jackson certainly qualifies there. He’s waited a long time for another shot. He’s already in solid shape, even if he loathes training.

“It’s not fun,” Jackson said. “And because I say I hate to train, people automatically assume in their brain I don’t train hard. I actually train very hard. I just don’t like it. I hate every second of it.

“I want to get my belt back — that’s the only thing I care about. I have tunnel vision. I don’t care about nothing else.”