GREAT article on the picture below.......
I got chills as soon as I saw this. I have seen this picture a thousand times and it says a thousand things. Youve seen it too. A young upstart is in front, excited, loud. The old lion stands in the back eyeing him. Quiet. Knowing. The word is sorely misused and overused, but this is classic.
Jon Jones: "God is so good. I feel so great. Im going for a world title, baby. Lets do it!"
Mauricio Rua comes in, nonchalant: "I respect Jon Jones, but Im a professional fighter. No problem."
Jones fights a young mans fight. He fights like someone who doesnt think he can lose. Every challenge for him is a wild ride and he throws himself into it with abandon. Does that remind you of anyone?
Take yourself out of a fans shoes for a moment. Imagine youre Rua. You can see past the flash. You see another fighter like all fighters youve faced: a conquerable challenge. You look at him like you know of worlds hes only seen in his dreams. This kid. He doesnt know what hes gotten himself into.
Hes never left his soul in the ring with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. How many countries has he fought in? He's only seen the inside of Chute Boxe in his fantasies. He hasnt had his arm broken in a fight. He was never PRIDEs uncrowned champion, fallen. He hasnt been low and lower and risen again.
Hes business as usual. Thats all.
Jones is high off his win, high off the chance to prove himself. Hes screaming, amping himself up. Rua knows what its like. He was the original 23-year-old wonder. Once upon a time he did everything Jones did, and more. That was five years ago. Five years is forever in this sport. He looks at Jones like Son, you dont know where Ive been.
This is one of the best MMA photos Ive ever seen. It taps into a story, a showdown were all familiar with, and which will never become trite as long as combat sports exist. Two sides of the same coin. His present, his future. This is the best story you're going to get in MMA, better than any revenge tale. And it's all real.
