UFC 128 Rua vs Jones Preview, odds and where to watch

By Alex Blackburn

ones continues his search and destroy mission throughout the UFCs light heavyweight division with his next stop Newark, New Jersey. Standing in his way is the heavy handed and always dangerous Mauricio Shogun Rua, the current UFC light heavyweight champion. Then of course we have two former WEC champions, the California Kid, Urijah Faber taking on Eddie Wineland in what should be an explosive bantamweight match. Lets take a look at these as well as an undercard featuring Nate Marquardt and Yoshihiro Akiyama to see if we can earn a share of the purses without taking a punch.
It isnt often that you see a reigning champion as a 2 to 1 underdog but then again, it isnt often you see an opponent like Jon Bones Jones (12-1). Rashad Sugar Evans was training for a title fight with Shogun (19-4) until he sprained a knee ligament in training camp. After two medical examinations and concurring diagnoses, Evans was out and the rumor was that UFC boss Dana White placed a call to Quinton Rampage Jackson to take his place. It seems the only rampaging Jackson has done lately is through his refrigerator and a four week window to shed all those pounds was too daunting a prospect for the new Haagen-Dazs spokesman. That left perhaps the most logical and deserving opponent, Jon Jones to fill the void.
Shogun was the pride of PRIDE before the UFC ever acquired it. He was a devastating middleweight and simply sledge hammered his way through the division. He had won eight straight fights in PRIDE as a middleweight until he jumped up and fought veteran MMA tough guy Mark Coleman at an open weight class that had disastrous results when he suffered a broken arm within a minute of the first round. Ironically, the name of the card was PRIDE 31: Unbreakable. So much for truth in advertising. Since entering the UFC as a light heavyweight, the journey has not been without its bumps as evidenced by his 2 losses out of only 5 fights but its hard to argue with his current destination as he has ascended to the apex of the UFC mountain. Debuting in September of 07 he was submitted by Forrest Griffin but then got his record healthy by defeating two UFC legends past their expiration date in Mark Coleman and Chuck Liddell. That gave him enough street cred for Dana White to arrange a title match with then champion Lyoto Machida. Rua would lose that match by decision but earned an immediate rematch and 6 months later he avenged the loss with a 1st round KO and the UFC strap around his waist.
Current Betting Odds
Jon Jones (4/7) Mauricio Rua (7/4) Draw (33/1)

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