Mason Jones understood he wouldn`t gain many local fans going up against a beloved figure like Jeremy Stephens in his hometown, yet he delivered an impressive performance. After showcasing striking prowess early on, Jones turned to his grappling in the final five minutes to solidify his win at UFC Des Moines.
The fighter from Wales was more than willing to trade heavy blows with Stephens, and both competitors exited the octagon bearing the marks of their intense battle. However, Jones` persistent pressure, high volume striking, and well-executed grappling control ultimately led him to a shutout victory, with all three judges scoring the fight 30-27 in his favor.
Speaking after the contest, Jones remarked:
“I wanted to go out there and strike with him. He’s a legend. I’m sorry about that last round, I had to get the job done.”
Jones displayed complete confidence stepping into the lion`s den, aggressively throwing head kicks followed by sharp low leg kicks. Stephens retaliated with his powerful hands, including a stiff straight right that momentarily snapped Jones` head back.
Nevertheless, Jones maintained relentless pressure, constantly chipping away at Stephens with a diverse array of strikes. These non-stop attacks from Jones effectively limited Stephens` ability to find his rhythm and generate significant offense.
Late in the opening round, Jones successfully secured a takedown and came close to finishing the fight with a rear-naked choke, but Stephens demonstrated resilience and survived until the round ended.
Following the brief break, Jones continued his surge, while Stephens appeared eager to engage in a brawl, unloading forceful hooks and uppercuts in hopes of landing a knockout shot. Jones landed a nasty spinning back elbow that resulted in a cut on Stephens` face, causing blood to pour out.
Paradoxically, the injury seemed to spur Stephens on. He landed a powerful strike that sent Jones` mouthpiece flying. Although Jones recovered well, he was visibly more cautious, respecting the clear danger Stephens still posed.
Leveraging his definite advantage on the ground, Jones secured another takedown immediately at the start of the third round, which drew a loud chorus of boos from the Iowa faithful. Despite Stephens` defensive efforts and attempts to scramble free, Jones maintained top control, eventually looking for a kimura submission, although he couldn`t fully secure it.
Even when Stephens briefly managed to return to his feet, Jones quickly dragged him back down, effectively running down the clock on the Des Moines native. When the final horn sounded, there was no ambiguity – Jones had done more than enough to win, though Stephens certainly gave a gritty account of himself in his return to the UFC.
Regarding their next steps, Jones hinted at potentially competing again in July in Saudi Arabia. Stephens, having signed only a one-fight deal for the chance to compete in his home state of Iowa within the UFC, is now free to explore his options.
