UFC
Dan Henderson: Rashad Evans will put Jon Jones on his back at UFC 145
Apr 3, 2012 - 11:55:24 PM Dan Henderson: Rashad Evans will put Jon Jones on his back at UFC 145

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

While the MMA world waits with anticipation over what should be a fantastic UFC Light Heavyweight Championship bout later this month, there is at least one man who will be paying extra close attention to the fight between Rashad Evans and Jon Jones: Dan Henderson.

The former two-division Pride Champion and Strikeforce Champ earned his shot with a win over the man Jones took the belt from, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, and he's set to take on the winner of this fight later in the year.

He's ready and willing to take on whichever fighter proves victorious in Atlanta later this month, but while many are already assuming it will be Jones coming out on top, Henderson doesn't believe it's that simple.

"Don't count out Rashad Evans," Henderson said in an interview with ESPN UK. "Everybody's assuming it will be Jones, but Rashad is a good fighter too."

"Rashad got a lot of criticism for his last performance [against Phil Davis] but I thought he fought really well, really solid. Jon Jones is tough but Rashad could definitely come out winning."

One key for Evans will be how effective he is with his wrestling game. Considering Jones has not yet been put on his back in his UFC career, that may seem like a very unlikely weapon for Evans, but Henderson believes the former Champion will be able to take the young kingpin down.

"He will definitely put Jones on his back if he fights like he did against Phil Davis," Henderson said. "Rashad's the better wrestler, it's just that Jones is awkward. But Jones wouldn't be able to stop him taking him down for that long."

Still, Henderson will be ready for either man once that fight has played out, and sees two very different styles of fight ahead of him depending on which man comes out with the win.

"They have two different styles, two different fights," Henderson said. "Rashad is good on his feet, good with his striking, and he would definitely try to put me on my back more than Jon Jones would."

"Jones is longer, kicks a little bit more, stays on the outside and is awkward, and that is something I would have to deal with."

Penick's Analysis: That's one of the unknowns heading into this fight that is intriguing for Rashad Evans fans. Jones has stuffed every takedown that's been attempted against him, but he also hasn't had anyone consistently trying to bring the fight to the ground against him, either. If Evans can work his takedowns effectively, then things become very interesting because we haven't seen Jones have to fight off his back. Obviously his ability to avoid that position is a major contributing factor to that, and it may be that even Evans can't put him on his back, but if Evans does manage that as Henderson believes he will, we'll see how the young Champ responds. Of course, getting him down once won't cut it, and Evans will have to do a lot more than simply complete some takedowns, but it would be a start, and would provide for something we haven't had to see out of Jones to this point.

[Dan Henderson art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]