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
 

UFC 114: Rampage vs. Evans was a mixed martial arts event held on May 29, 2010 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. The full fight card featured five Ultimate Fighter season champions Rashad Evans, Michael Bisping, Diego Sanchez, Amir Sadollah and Efrain Escudero. Forrest Griffin was also scheduled to be another Ultimate Fighter winner to compete, but had to pull out. A bout between Forrest Griffin and Antônio Rogério Nogueira was scheduled, however Griffin withdrew due to a shoulder injury. Griffin was replaced by Jason Brilz. Melvin Guillard was scheduled to face Thiago Tavares, but Tavares was forced off the card with an elbow injury. Waylon Lowe then stepped in as Tavares' replacement. UFC President Dana White has confirmed that the winner between Jackson-Evans will fight the newly crowned UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Mauricio Rua, for the title. Rua's manager suggested he could see Rua's first title defense against Randy Couture though that bout was not likely going to come to fruition. Jackson was originally supposed to fight Evans for the title after defeating Keith Jardine, but a jaw injury during that fight allowed Lyoto Machida to step in, in his place. At UFC 98 Evans was knocked out by Machida. Jackson was then expected to fight for the title against Machida, but instead became a coach on The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights against Evans.

 

UFC 114: Rampage vs. Evans – Preliminary card

Middleweight bout: Jesse Forbes vs. Ryan Jensen
Jensen defeated Forbes via submission (guillotine choke) at 1:06 of round 1.

Lightweight bout: Aaron Riley vs. Joe Brammer
Riley defeated Brammer via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).

Light Heavyweight bout: Luiz Cane vs. Cyrille Diabaté
Diabaté defeated Cane via TKO (strikes) at 2:13 of round 1.

Lightweight bout: Melvin Guillard vs. Waylon Lowe
Guillard defeated Lowe via KO (strikes) at 3:28 of round 1.

Lightweight bout: Efrain Escudero vs. Dan Lauzon
Escudero defeated Lauzon via unanimous decision (29–27, 29–27, 29–27). Escudero was deducted 1 point due to repeated kicks to the groin.

Welterweight bout: Amir Sadollah vs. Dong Hyun Kim
Kim defeated Sadollah via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).

UFC 114: Rampage vs. Evans – Main card

Welterweight bout: Diego Sanchez vs. John Hathaway
Hathaway defeated Sanchez via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–26).

Light Heavyweight bout: Antônio Rogério Nogueira vs. Jason Brilz
Nogueira defeated Brilz via split decision (28–29, 29–28, 29–28).

Heavyweight bout: Todd Duffee vs. Mike Russow
Russow defeated Duffee via KO (punch) at 2:33 in round 3.

Middleweight bout: Michael Bisping vs. Dan Miller
Bisping defeated Miller via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 29–27).

Light Heavyweight bout: Quinton Jackson vs. Rashad Evans
Evans defeated Jackson via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 29–28).

Fight of the Night: Antônio Rogério Nogueira vs. Jason Brilz
Knockout of the Night: Mike Russow
Submission of the Night: Ryan Jensen