UFC on Versus 2: 'Jones vs. Matyushenko' Primer

At 23 years old and with an undefeated UFC record, you can understand if Jon Jones occasionally lapses into the kind of hubris we’ve come to expect from athletes who enjoy success at an age most of us are enjoying Top Ramen.

Commenting on Saturday’s fight with Vladimir Matyushenko when it was first signed months ago, Jones described the bout as “a solid step sideways.” This hints at boredom in the UFC’s preference to bring him up slowly. (Compare him to other prodigies like Brock Lesnar or B.J. Penn, both of whom received title bouts in under four fights: Jones is 10-0, not including a DQ loss in a bout he had under control.) It also assumes Matyushenko brings nothing to the table Jones hasn’t already seen with other wrestling-foundation fighters in Jake O’Brien or Matt Hamill.

This is dangerous thinking. O’Brien, while gutsy, is B-level opposition; Hamill seems to have forgotten he’s a grappler. Matyushenko is the first opponent for Jones that has the ability to drag him into a long, dirty fight in the clinch, forcing Jones to bleed lactic acid in a struggle against the fence. He’s strong -- the kind of strong you get from being a 40-something grappler -- and he’s seen just about everything. He’s been stopped once in the last 13 years. He’s proven more than Hamill, O’Brien, or Brandon Vera.

Jones is the betting favorite, as younger, fresher fighters usually are. And despite passing comments to the contrary, I’m sure Jones and his camp are fully aware of what Matyushenko can do. But instead of feeling restless, Jones should appreciate the fact that he’s learning his craft at a pace most fighters would be envious of. It’s better to grow frustrated at moving too slowly than to go too fast and risk breaking your neck.

What: UFC on Versus 2: Jones vs. Matyushenko, a 10-bout card from the San Diego Sports Arena in San Diego

When: Sunday, August 1 at 9 p.m. ET on Versus

Why You Should Care: Because Jones might only be good for a handful of more fights on free television before the UFC expects you to start paying for the honor; because heavy-hitting takedown artist Mark Munoz might manage to squeeze an exciting fight out of Yushin Okami; and because Tyson Griffin might pound another nail in the coffin of Japanese-bred MMA by tossing around Takanori Gomi.

Fight of the Night: Paul Kelly vs. Jacob Volkmann; Kelly fights at a speed that doesn’t allow for much strategy, but it’s exciting.

Questions: UFC on Versus 2

Is Jon Jones being brought along too slowly?

Jones, only 23 but a presence in the Octagon for two years, has displayed every conceivable skillset that would warrant a bullet train to the top of the 205 lb. division -- yet the UFC is taking their time in allowing the Endicott, N.Y., native room to develop. Some find this an attractive alternative to the bum-rush matchmaking the UFC frequently pushes; others find it frustrating to watch. In either case, Jones is playing his role perfectly: he destroyed both Brandon Vera and Matt Hamill in record time. Putting away Vladimir Matyushenko, rarely finished, is a nice compromise.

Is Vladimir Matyushenko suffering from arrested development?

Matyushenko, a credible 5-2 inside the Octagon, last headlined a UFC in September 2001 against Tito Ortiz. He lost via decision, a method he frequently used to win fights in that period; nine years later, his last three bouts have been decided by judges. While Matyushenko is toiling in a heavily talented promotion, his lack of finishing ability at this level speaks to complacency with training or progression. He’s a grueling fighter, but if he can’t threaten with submissions or knockout finality, his opponent has less to worry about. That’s never a good thing.

Does the California athletic commission embarrass Nevada’s?

After John McCarthy left officiating to tackle broadcast work in 2007, he took the opportunity to speak openly about reservations he had with both the UFC and athletic commissions -- Nevada’s included. Since returning to the ring, McCarthy has been a conspicuous absence from events held in that state, particularly the UFC.

Now McCarthy is slated to oversee UFC bouts in San Diego, an indication that the California athletic commission doesn’t consider personal differences to be relevant in assigning duties to ring officials. In an era of questionable oversight, someone with McCarthy’s experience and knowledge should be a given.

Is Mark Munoz one of the few remaining threats for Anderson Silva?

Munoz, 8-1, is a takedown machine -- and while he possesses none of the experience of Silva’s previous opponents, it’s fairly obvious that beating Silva will require forcing his back to the mat. If Munoz can beat Yushin Okami, it would make his first victory over a top-10 middleweight, and possibly put him in the queue for a shot at an upset.

The wrinkle: Munoz trains and considers himself good friends with Silva. If his goal is a belt -- and why wouldn't it be? -- he should hope Silva rethinks his reluctance to move up in weight.

Red Ink: Jones vs. Matyushenko

It’s no coincidence that Jon Jones is preparing for his third consecutive fight on free television: the tube has created a venue for fighters to break free of both regional limitations and pay per view exclusivity. Mike Tyson fought practically once a month in the 1980s, the majority of the time on cable or network stations. There were no hurdles for fans to follow the making of a monster.

Jones is hardly Tyson -- and for that, he should be thankful -- but it’s clear the UFC is borrowing heavily from boxing’s playbook in packaging a talent that looks to pay dividends in the future. Jones is exciting, unblemished, and personable. He’s the latest model in mixed martial arts. And Vladimir Matyushenko is here to help perpetuate all of it.

Matyushenko can win, of course. But it’s clear the promotion has expectations of his aging-wrestler style stumbling into Jones’ dynamic attack. You do not experience 13 years in the ring and 28 fights without trading some of your constitution. Matyushenko is not exactly a pre-cut breaking board for Jones to smash, but there are definitely stress fractures in the woodwork.

Might Look Like: Georges St. Pierre vs. Matt Hughes II and III, with the slower wrestler having no answer for the reflexes and imagination of youth.

Wild Card: Jones has never had to deal with the kind of smothering control Matyushenko can exert: let him get his hands on you and it’s like getting a sleeve caught in a bank vault.

Who Wins: If Jones has kept improving at the same rapid pace, he’ll finish Matyushenko with a cut or a TKO; if he’s cold, he’ll have to settle for outstriking him in a decision. Either way, Jones continues to impress.