Jon Jones rose to the challenge yet again.
Diverse standup, statement-making takedowns and a grinding clinch game spurred Jones to a unanimous decision over Daniel Cormier, as he retained the Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight crown in the UFC 182 headliner on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. All three cageside judges arrived at the same verdict: 49-46 for Jones (21-1, 15-1 UFC), who has rattled off 12 straight wins.
Cormier (15-1, 4-1 UFC) was effective in spurts but gradually wore down. The American Kickboxing Academy export did his best work near the end of the first round and into the second, as he attacked Jones with potent dirty boxing in close quarters. Right uppercuts connected often but failed to deter the champion. Jones responded with standing elbows, knees and a variety of kicks to the head, body and legs.
The complexion of what had been a competitive fight changed in the fourth round, where Jones executed a pair of double-leg takedowns and seemed to suck the life right out of his opponent. Cormier landed a takedown of his own in round five but never put himself in position to author the finish he needed. Jones cruised to the finish line, his eighth title defense a resounding success.
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