In a battle of former NFL players fighting for the first time in the UFC, Matt Mitrione knocked out Marcus Jones Saturday night at the Ultimate Fighter Finale in Las Vegas.
Jones immediately clinched Mitrione and took him to the ground just seconds into the first round, and that set the stage for how the fight would go: Jones wanted to get it on the ground and use his physical strength and jiu jitsu skills, while Mitrione wanted to keep the fight standing and turn it into a boxing match, where he had the edge. The first round was a back-and-forth battle with Jones doing more on the ground and Mitrione doing more on his feet.
But at the start of the second round, Mitrione landed one hard punch, and that was that: It toppled Jones to the ground, and Mitrione pounced and pounded him out just 10 seconds into the round.
Jones, a former Tampa Bay Buccaneers first-round draft pick, has undeniable strength and good ground skills, but he has a long way to go as a stand-up fighter before anyone can consider him a legitimate mixed martial artist. Jones' professional MMA record now falls to 4-2, and both losses were ugly knockouts.
It was the professional MMA debut for Mitrione, and he showed good poise and power. He doesn't have the talent to be a UFC champion, but he will have some interesting fights ahead of him. And as he showed on Saturday night, he can throw a punch.
Cheerleaders perform during an NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville Jaguars in San Francisco, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
AP
PHILADELPHIA - NOVEMBER 29: A Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader performs during a game against the Washington Redskins on November 29, 2009 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles won 27-24. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
Getty Images
PHILADELPHIA - NOVEMBER 29: A Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader performs during a game against the Washington Redskins on November 29, 2009 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles won 27-24. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
Getty Images
HOUSTON - NOVEMBER 29: Houston Texans cheerleaders perform at Reliant Stadium on November 29, 2009 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
Getty Images
ATLANTA - NOVEMBER 29: A cheerleader for the Atlanta Falcons performs during the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Georgia Dome on November 29, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Getty Images
PHILADELPHIA - NOVEMBER 29: A Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader dances before the game against the Washington Redskins during their game at Lincoln Financial Field on November 29, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Getty Images
CINCINNATI - NOVEMBER 29: A Cincinnati Bengals cheerleader is pictured during the NFL game against the Cleveland Browns at Paul Brown Stadium on November 29, 2009 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Buffalo Bills cheerleaders perform during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday Nov. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/David Duprey)
AP
DENVER - NOVEMBER 26: A member of the Denver Broncos cheerleaders performs during a break in the action against the New York Giants during NFL action at Invesco Field at Mile High on November 26, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Giants 26-6. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Getty Images
ARLINGTON, TX - NOVEMBER 26: Cheerleader of the Dallas Cowboys perform at halftime during a game against the Oakland Raiders at Cowboys Stadium on November 26, 2009 in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys defeated the Raiders 24-7. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
In a battle of former NFL players fighting for the first time in the UFC, Matt Mitrione knocked out Marcus Jones Saturday night at the Ultimate Fighter Finale in Las Vegas.