Jon Jones (photo via UFC/ ZUFFA/ Getty Images)

By FCF Staff

Jon Jones may have entered UFC 172 without appearing invincible, but the light-heavyweight champ did his best Saturday night to reassert himself as the planet’s best pound-for-pound fighter.

Heading into Saturday’s event, the pre-fight narrative that had been procured by many and the UFC, was that Teixeira represented yet another dangerous threat to Jones’ reign. The argument being that while Alex Gustafsson had punished Jones at UFC 168, Teixeira possesses one punch, stopping power that could prove to be the star’s undoing.

In the end, the competitive bout that many expected failed to materialize, thanks to the dynamic and diverse arsenal of Jones. While Jones was unable to put his feared top game into play, the 26 year-old star battered Teixeira with strikes from the outside, as well as from the clinch.

“Jones completely broke down his game plan and went into the danger zone,” Brian Stann relayed on the FOX Sports 1 post-fight show. “He used his innovation and used his elbows, and looked like he put Glover’s face in a blender. It’s unbelievable with his 85-inch reach that he’d going into a phone booth, going into the shark’s mouth and win the fight. Jones didn’t take a lot of damage. He’ll be able to keep fighting for a long time.”

“It was not the fight I expected,” said UFC President Dana White. “I thought Glover was going to take it to him, close the distance and for Jon would try to take him down. But Jon stood up with him all night. And now we see he’s got a chin on him. He put on a clinic and picked him apart.”

Jones

Early on, it looked as though fans might be treated to a Jones-Gustafsson like bout, as Teixeira was able to land several hard shots. The attack of Jones, however, never halted.

“One thing you have to have is a chin. I realized I have a chin,” Jones noted to FOX Sports 1, “I caught some uppercuts and some left hooks. I’m blessed to prove I can fight at close range. A lot of people believe that to beat me you have to get inside. Today I threw more elbows standing than ever. I’m closing up the holes in my game – jiu-jitsu, takedown defense, takedowns, close-range fighting. I believe I’ll be champion for a long time.”

While Jones has defeated yet another highly regarded fighter, and ended Teixeira’s 20 fight win streak, “Bones” wasn’t entirely happy with the victory.

“I broke my own record with most title defenses; I have gigantic goals and I’m taking them one at a time. I’m not that impressed with that performance,” added Jones, who will rematch Gustafsson next, on a date yet to be determined. “My cardio was running low a little at the end. I do have a lot of great gifts. You have to be smart. You have to have a great work ethic.”

UFC 172 took place in Baltimore, Maryland and was hosted by the Baltimore Arena.