Now That We Know He Can Take a Punch, Are There Any More Questions for Jon Jones?

TORONTO -- Want to know how dominant UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones has been in his MMA career? He showed up at the UFC 140 post-fight press conference after a second-round stoppage of former champ Lyoto Machida and told members of the media that he was actually happy to have had an opponent who managed to punch him in face a few times, and no one seemed to regard this statement as the least bit absurd.

Maybe that's because, by standing up to several blistering punch combos from Machida in the opening round of the main event bout, Jones effectively put to rest the last lingering questions about his perceived weaknesses.

"That's definitely something that's gotten made up by media, that I can't take a punch," Jones said. "I just felt as if it was something to address, just to kind of quiet more critics. ...I knew I could take a punch, and I'm glad that I got to prove it."

In fairness, it's not that critics had necessarily accused Jones of having a weak chin. It was just, since he had so thoroughly dominated his previous opponents, few of whom had even managed to get their fists in the general vicinity of his face, it was one of the only question marks left regarding his ability. Machida helped answer those questions in the first round, and then he paid for it in the second round.

Though two of three judges at cageside actually scored the opening frame in Jones' favor, Machida seemed to get the better of the action thanks to effective counter-punching and efficient combos. Even Jones admitted that the first round was "very, very confusing for me," and it resulted in him taking several direct blows to the head.

In the second, however, Jones began to figure Machida out. After hurting him with a well-timed right hand that wobbled the Brazilian challenger, Jones secured a takedown and opened up a nasty cut over Machida's right eye with an elbow strike from the top position. From there, Jones said, "that's when my confidence really started to skyrocket."

"I realized that, on the ground, I would have a pretty safe avenue to success there. And seeing the blood just really let me know that, he bleeds; let's do this."

If there were any doubters left who questioned whether Jones is indeed the world's best 205-pound fighter, they likely had a hard time clinging to their illusions after Jones wrapped up a standing guillotine to choke Machida unconscious near the end of the second round. There was the man who had once looked like an unbeatable UFC champ, who had only been stopped one previous time in his MMA career, and Jones left him lying limply on the mat like a wet towel on the bathroom floor.

Even UFC president Dana White, who had hedged his praise for Jones after prior victories, had to give the champ his due.

"I'm done with this whole, 'If he gets through the next one like he has all the others' thing," White said. "He's the real deal."

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• UFC 140 Photos

  Mark Bocek punches Nik Lentz at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.

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• UFC 140 Photos

  Mark Bocek and Nik Lentz try to sway the judges at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.

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• UFC 140 Photos

  Nik Lentz throws a kick at Mark Bocek at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.

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  Nik Lentz attempts a guillotine choke on Mark Bocek at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.

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• UFC 140 Photos

  Jake Hecht def. Rich Attonito via second-round TKO at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.

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  Jake Hecht celebrates after his TKO win over Rich Attonito at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.

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  Rich Attonito (right) clinches with Jake Hecht at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.

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  Rich Attonito throws punches at Jake Hecht at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.

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  Rich Attonito (right) charges towards Jake Hecht at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the  Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.

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• UFC 140 Photos

  John Cholish def. Mitch Clarke via second-round TKO at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.

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  John Cholish walks off after his TKO win over Mitch Clarke at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.

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  John Cholish climbs the back of Mitch Clarke at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.

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  John Cholish attempts a kimura on Mitch Clarke at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.

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• UFC 140 Photos Mark Bocek punches Nik Lentz at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Dennis Hallman defeats John Makdessi via submission (rear-naked choke) at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.

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• UFC 140 Photos Dennis Hallman defeats John Makdessi via submission (rear-naked choke) at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.

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• UFC 140 Photos Dennis Hallman takes the back of John Makdessi at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.
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• UFC 140 Photos Yves Jabouin def. Walel Watson via split decision at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Yves Jabouin throws a kick at Walel Watson at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Walel Watson kicks Yves Jabouin at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Walel Watson elbows Yves Jabouin at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Yves Jabouin punches Walel Watson at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Walel Watson (right) charges Yves Jabouin at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Yves Jabouin punches Walel Watson at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Yves Jabouin (left) clashes with Walel Watson at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.

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• UFC 140 Photos Jared Hamman receives attention after his loss at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Constantinos Philippou celebrates his first-round TKO over Jared Hamman at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Constantinos Philippou punches Jared Hamman at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Constantinos Philippou finishes Jared Hamman at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Constantinos Philippou punches Jared Hamman at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Constantinos Philippou walks back to the locker room after his win at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Igor Pokrajac defeated Krzystof Soszynski by first-round KO at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.

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• UFC 140 Photos Krzystof Soszynski receives medical attention at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.

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• UFC 140 Photos Igor Pokrajac celebrates his KO win over Krzystof Soszynski at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.

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• UFC 140 Photos

  Krzystof Soszynski (left) clashes with Igor Pokrajac at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.

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• UFC 140 Photos Igor Pokrajac punches Krzystof Soszynski at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.

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• UFC 140 Photos Chan Sung Jung knocks out Mark Hominick in seven seconds at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Mark Hominick looks off in disappointment after his loss at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Chan Sung Jung celebrates his KO win over Mark Hominick in seven seconds at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Chan Sung Jung knocks out Mark Hominick in seven seconds at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Chan Sung Jung finishes Mark Hominick with punches at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Chan Sung Jung finishes Mark Hominick with punches at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Chan Sung Jung punches Mark Hominick at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.
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• UFC 140 Photos Tito Ortiz walks to the locker rooms after his loss at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Antonio Rogerio Nogueira def. Tito Ortiz at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Antonio Rogerio Nogueira holds his arms up after finishing Tito Ortiz at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Tito Ortiz grimaces in pain after his TKO loss to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Tito Ortiz holds his injured ribs at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
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  The referee saves Tito Ortiz from further punishment at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.

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• UFC 140 Photos Antonio Rogerio Nogueira ground and pounds Tito Ortiz at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Antonio Rogerio Nogueira punches Tito Ortiz at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
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  Antonio Rogerio Nogueira elbows Tito Ortiz at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.

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  Antonio Rogerio Nogueira knees the stomach of Tito Ortiz at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.

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  Antonio Rogerio Nogueira clashes with Tito Ortiz at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.

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• UFC 140 Photos

  Frank Mir acknowledges the fans after tapping out Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.

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• UFC 140 Photos Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira's arm is twisted out of position at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Frank Mir taps out Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
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  Frank Mir def. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira via submission (kimura) at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.

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• UFC 140 Photos Frank Mir taps out Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos UFC octagon girl Brittney Palmer makes her return at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 in Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Frank Mir secures a kimura on Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira stuns Frank Mir with punches at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Octagon girls smile for the camera at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos 18,303 were in attendance at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Lyoto Machida walks to the locker rooms after his loss to Jon Jones at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.
• UFC 140 Photos Frank Mir secures a kimura on Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
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  Jon Jones throws a kick at Lyoto Machida at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.

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• UFC 140 Photos Jon Jones poses with his trainers at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Jon Jones talks to Joe Rogan after his win over Lyoto Machida at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Jon Jones walks off after finishing Lyoto Machida at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Jon Jones walks off after finishing Lyoto Machida at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Jon Jones walks off after finishing Lyoto Machida at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Lyoto Machida falls unconscious at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Jon Jones secures a guillotine choke on Lyoto Machida at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Jon Jones drops Lyoto Machida at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Jon Jones attacks Lyoto Machida at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Jon Jones attacks Lyoto Machida at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Lyoto Machida receives a deep cut on his forehead at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Lyoto Machida pushes forward against Jon Jones at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Jon Jones receives corner instructions at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Lyoto Machida and Jon Jones head to their respective corners after round one at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Jon Jones tries to keep a distance from Lyoto Machida at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Jon Jones tries to keep a distance from Lyoto Machida at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Lyoto Machida keeps his eyes on Jon Jones at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
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  Lyoto Machida punches Jon Jones at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada.

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• UFC 140 Photos Brian Ebersole wins a split decision over Claude Patrick at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Brian Ebersole sports TapouT chest hair at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Claude Patrick throws a left hand at Brian Ebersole at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Claude Patrick tries to guillotine Brian Ebersole at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting
• UFC 140 Photos Brian Ebersole punches Claude Patrick at UFC 140 on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

After the presser, White said he now sees Jones as the world's number two pound-for-pound fighter, behind only middleweight champ Anderson Silva, and in front of welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre. Ironic that he'd come around to that conclusion only after the rare fight that saw Jones actually look slightly mortal in the early going, but maybe it took that hint of vulnerability to remind the UFC president -- not to mention the fans -- that these are serious opponents Jones has been taking apart.

If anything, Jones has made it look too easy up until now. In 2011 he not only captured the UFC light heavyweight title, but also successfully defended it twice -- a feat that hasn't been accomplished since Chuck Liddell held the title. He dispatched MMA legends like "Shogun" Rua and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson with such ease that it actually seems newsworthy when he loses a round.

He's been almost too good for his own good, so maybe it's not such a bad idea to take a few punches from Machida, if only to show that he can. Now with this historic year of combat in the books, let the 24-year-old champ have a little time off. If anybody's earned a vacation, it's Jones. After all, he did just get punched in the face for our entertainment. Maybe other fighters regard that as just another aspect of the job, but for Jones it's still a relatively new experience, and one he'd probably rather not get too accustomed to.