Jones vs Smith Primed to Create History

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The UFC broke the news early on Sunday that Dana White is eyeing Jon Jones to defend his title against Anthony Smith at UFC 235 on April 25th at the T-Mobile Arena. This will be Jones’ 4th title reign in the UFC.

Smith has kept himself busy by stacking wins against opponents that Jones had previously defeated. The list of recent victories for Smith includes fighters such as  Rashad Evans, Mauricio Rua and Volkan Oezdemir.

Going up against Jon Jones is a different animal for Smith, as Jones’ only official loss in the UFC came against Matt Hamill in December of 2009. Anytime a fighter is pinned against Jones, a hypothetical victory is primed to shock the MMA universe.

Gaining a title shot is historic for Smith, and getting the UFC to book this bout is an accomplishment itself. As long as Smith can showcase himself as a worthy opponent, a potential loss may not necessarily keep him out of contention for a future title shot.

Jones has been busy after coming off a 15-month suspension to his rematch with Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 232. Jones defeated Gustafsson in the 3rd round by TKO, which led to the Light Heavyweight title.

Jones is looking to defend his title, while Smith is stepping in to create a piece of UFC history. On paper, many will call for another Jones victory, but remember that Smith is a worthy contender.

Featured Image: Combat Press