Quinton Jackson thinks Jon Jones’ style of fighting is dirty.
Jackson challenged Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) for the light heavyweight title at UFC 135 in 2011, but fell short when he was submitted in Round 4. “Rampage” marked Jones’ first title defense, and he went on to become the greatest 205-pounder of all time.
Although Jackson admits he felt better than ever health wise in the fight, he thought some of Jones’ tactics in the fight weren’t clean. Jackson pointed to Jones’ tendency to stick his fingers out, which has caused him to accidentally poke fighters in their eyes on numerous occasions.
“Jon Jones is a great fighter. Even if he was standing in this room I would say it. But he’s the dirtiest fighter ever,” Jackson said in an interview with Chris Van Vliet. “The guy is so smart. He does the most dirtiest things.
“If you’re doing anything good on him, he’s going to poke you in the eye. If you’re advancing or doing anything good or you get the advantage, he’s going to kick your knee backwards.”
Jackson recalls getting kicked in the kneecap by Jones, which he says hindered his movement for a while.
“For one, I think that knee kick – they call it like an oblique kick – he’s kicking you right on your kneecap,” Jackson said. “I think that should be banned. … My knee is still messed up from that fight because it hyperextended – he kicked it all the way back. You can end people’s careers with those moves.
“Jon Jones, he’s good. He doesn’t even have to do that. Think about all of those spinning elbows he used to do in the beginning. Where did they land? Do you remember? In the back of people’s heads. It’s illegal. Jon Jones is like the dirtiest fighter.”
Despite the criticism surrounding Jones’ fighting style, Jackson said there’s no ill will toward his former foe.
“I’m cool with Jon Jones,” Jackson said. “When I see Jon Jones, we’re cool. … I always had honor when I fought. I wanted to be the best fighter on the day. I wanted to win the fight clean. But I know that every fighter is not like me.”
Jones returns from layoff of more than three years when he faces Ciryl Gane for the vacant heavyweight title in the UFC 285 headliner March 4.
