UFC 135 “Jones vs. Rampage” was a mixed martial arts event held on September 24, 2011 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. Jon Jones was expected to make his first title defense on August 6, 2011 at UFC 133 against Rashad Evans, but Jones was sidelined with a hand injury. It was initially announced that the hand injury would require surgery, but Jones opted for rest and rehabilitation without surgery after further consultations with doctors. Jones injury was originally thought to keep him out of action until late 2011, but instead, he made his first title defense against Quinton Jackson at this event.

 

Matt Hughes vs. Josh Koscheck

Hughes is one of the UFC's all time best fighters, but is on the tail end of his career. His strength is his wrestling and he also has a solid submission game, but he has always been a subpar striker. He was originally supposed to fight Diego Sanchez but Sanchez was injured and Koscheck stepped in. Koscheck has wanted to fight Hughes for years but Hughes always resisted the fight because he didn't like Koscheck and didn't want to give him the opportunity. Now on short notice he took the fight. Koscheck is a younger man with better wrestling credentials and better striking. It's a tough stylistic matchup for Hughes and Koscheck is the heavy betting favorite.
Hughes comes to the cage with the old Miletich Fighting Systems crew: Pat Miletich, Robbie Lawler and Jeremy Horn. That was one of the first elite training camps in MMA and one of the most important training camps in the evolution of the sport. Hughes has trained more with Lawler in recent years and the group coming out together is clearly meant as a statement.
Hughes after the fight said he's not retiring but he's going to tell UFC to "put him on the shelf" for the time being. Hughes seemed on the version of tearing up but kept his emotions in check.

Jon Jones vs. Quinton "Rampage" Jackson

Jones comes from a wrestling background but has picked up striking very quickly. One of his greatest strengths is his natural size and reach, which keeps opponents off balance and allows him to attack from unique angles and in unique ways. Jackson was originally more of a wrestling based fighter but over time he has fallen in love with boxing and he utilizes primarily boxing to win these days. Jackson is also noted for having an excellent chin. Jones has a colossal 11 and a half inch reach advantage.

Jones neutralized Jackson’s offense, softened him with kicks and then finished him at 1:14 of the fourth round with a rear-naked choke in the main event of UFC 135 at the Pepsi Center. Jones opened a cut over Jackson’s right eye in the third round with an elbow, then quickly finished him with the choke in the fourth. Jackson, a former champion, had spent more than two months training in Denver, working harder than he had in a long time, by his own admission. But he still had no answer for Jones’ length and varied attack. Jones’ striking was even a factor.

“He insulted my striking and said I had no punching power,” Jones said. “I got together with Mike Winkeljohn to work on my striking to try to prove a point.”

Jackson, who staged a psychological battle against Jones leading up to the fight, came away impressed. “I thought it was hype, but he’s the real thing,” said Jackson, who said he was better than he’s ever been.”

 

UFC 135 “Jones vs. Rampage” Results

Preliminary Card

• Light Heavyweight bout: James Te Huna vs. Ricardo Romero
Te Huna defeated Romero via KO (punches) at 0:47 of round 1. This bout aired on the televised broadcast following the Ferguson vs. Riley fight.

• Bantamweight bout: Takeya Mizugaki vs. Cole Escovedo
Mizugaki defeated Escovedo via TKO (punches) at 4:30 of round 2. This bout aired on PPV broadcast following the Jones vs. Jackson fight.

• Featherweight bout: Junior Assunção vs. Eddie Yagin
Assunção defeated Yagin via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27).

• Middleweight bout: Nick Ring vs. Tim Boetsch
Boetsch defeated Ring via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27).

• Lightweight bout: Tony Ferguson vs. Aaron Riley
Ferguson defeated Riley via TKO (Corner Stoppage) at 5:00 of round 1.

Main Card

• Lightweight bout: Nate Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi
Diaz defeated Gomi via submission (armbar) at 4:27 of round 1.

• Heavyweight bout: Travis Browne vs. Rob Broughton
Browne defeated Broughton via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).

• Heavyweight bout: Ben Rothwell vs. Mark Hunt
Hunt defeated Rothwell via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 30-27).

• Welterweight bout: Matt Hughes vs. Josh Koscheck
Koscheck defeated Hughes via KO (punches) at 4:59 of round 1.

• Light Heavyweight Championship: Jon Jones (c) vs. Quinton Jackson
Jones defeated Jackson via submission (rear naked choke) at 1:14 of round 4 to retain the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.

Bonus awards
 - Fight of the Night: Jon Jones vs. Quinton Jackson
 - Knockout of the Night: Josh Koscheck
 - Submission of the Night: Nate Diaz
 

We are about to witness another exciting fight weekend because of UFC 111. For the first time this year, two world title belts are at stake as the UFC returns to the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey for UFC 111. The main event of the evening will be the battle between UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre and British fighter Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy.

St-Pierre has been very effective in his last fights since regaining his welterweight title in 2008. He is ready to defend his title against the Dan Hardy, who is also fresh from his wins against Marcus Davis and Mike Swick. It will be the first time a British fighter will try to grab a UFC title. As part of UFC 111, two-time heavyweight champion Frank Mir will take on number one contender Shane Carwin to decide who will go home with the interim UFC heavyweight championship belt.

 

Georges ‘Rush’ St Pierre Vs Dan ‘The Outlaw’ Hardy

The main event of the evening saw GSP take a unanimous decision victory win over ‘The Outlaw’ (50-43, 50-44 and 50-45) retaining the Welterweight title. Despite the loss, I think Dan Hardy gained a lot of extra fans and respect last night. Hardy displayed a lot of heart throughout all 5 rounds even though GSP took Dan to the ground repeatedly, not allowing him to find any openings for his strikes. Twice GSP had opportunities to end the fight, as he hyperextended his arm in a first round armbar and locked on a vicious looking kimura in the fourth. Both attempts failed, with Hardy battling through the pain and refusing to tap. GSP's frustration was clear to see, who apologised to the crowd after being announced as the victor “I wanted to finish the fight in beautiful fashion,” he said. “I’m very sorry.”

Frank Mir Vs Shane Carwin

Carwin pinned Mir up against the cage quickly in the first round and landed some vicious strikes. Mir gave out and dropped, with Carwin landing some super powered punches in bunches. Mir tried to regain himself but failed. Carwin was announced the Interim Heavyweight Champion after the ‘KO of the night’ 3:48 into the first round. WOW! That’s all that has to be said! Impressive victory.

 

Main Cards

- Welterweight Championship: Georges St. Pierre 170 defeated Dan Hardy 170 via unanimous decision (50-43, 50-44, 50-45). St-Pierre completely dominated Hardy.

- Interim Heavyweight Championship: Shane Carwin 265 defeated Frank Mir 265 via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:48

- Kurt Pellegrino 155 defeated Fabricio Camoes 155 via submission (rear naked choke) – Round 2, 4:20

- Jon Fitch 171 defeated Ben Saunders 169 via unanimous decision (30-27 on all cards)

- Jim Miller 155 defeated Mark Bocek 154 via unanimous decision (29-28 on all cards)

Preliminary Cards

- Nate Diaz 171 defeated Rory Markham 177 via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 2:47

- Ricardo Almeida 170 defeated Matt Brown 170 via submission (rear naked choke) – Round 2, 3:30

- Jared Hamman 205 defeated Rodney Wallace 206 via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

- Rousimar Palhares 186 defeated Tomasz Drwal 185 via submission (heel hook) – Round 1, 0:45

- Matthew Riddle 170 defeated Greg Soto 170 via disqualification (illegal kick) – Round 3, 1:30

UFC Fight Night 20 Results

 - Gray Maynard def. Nate Diaz via split decision (28-29, 30-27, 29-28)
 - Evan Dunham def. Efrain Escudero via submission (armbar) – Round 3, 1:59
 - Aaron Simpson def. Tom Lawlor via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
 - Amir Sadollah def. Brad Blackburn via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
 - Chris Leben def. Jay Silva via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
 - Rick Story def. Jesse Lennox via split decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
 - Thiago Tavares vs. Nik Lentz – majority draw (28-28, 28-28, 29-27)
 - Rory MacDonald def. Mike Guymon via submission (armbar) – Round 1, 4:27
 - Rafael dos Anjos def. Kyle Bradley via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
 - Gerald Harris def. John Salter via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 3:24
 - Nick Catone def. Jesse Forbes via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)