UFC 152 Aftermath: Vitor Belfort Does Jon Jones a Favor

Vitor Belfort did Jon Jones a favor Saturday night the rest of the light heavyweight division will most likely come to regret.

To the untrained eye, as well as many trained ones, the UFC light heavyweight champion has appeared a near-flawless fighter.

But in less than a minute at Toronto's Air Canada Centre, Belfort not only put Jones in the most challenging spot he's ever faced in his mixed martial arts career, he's also given the champion something to obsess over going forward.

While you and I might see Belfort's almost-submission of Jones via armbar in the opening moments of their UFC 152 main event as simply the handiwork of a master jiu-jitsu practitioner who has seen and done it all, Jones, in the manner of elite athletes across the sporting spectrum, came out of the situation seeing a glaring hole in his game that's in dire need of work.

"I would rate the performance, I think it was a good performance, but there was definitely a lot of room to improve," said Jones, wearing a sling on his right arm at the post-fight press conference. "Vitor had me second-guessing myself. I've just got to get more comfortable in the Octagon. I work so hard on my wrestling and so hard on my standup. I definitely need to embrace jiu-jitsu more and practice what I preach, being a true mixed martial artist and embracing all martial arts. I have to admit I don't practice my jiu-jitsu every day."

Jones went as far as to say he was grateful for nearly getting his arm snapped.

"I just remember getting to that second round, thanking God that I had gotten out of that armbar, and thanking God for that adversity. ... I honestly thank God just for having a hurt arm, just to prove to myself and prove to my coaches that all the speeches and all the stories I heard about warriors, just to be able to prove that I can be a warrior as well, I was grateful to be able to come back from something."

All the more remarkable was that, in spite of the hurt limb, Jones went ahead and fought a near-flawless bout the rest of the way, picking the former champion apart before finishing him in the fourth round with an Americana.

The performance capped a week in which Jones hit all the right notes in his campaign to remake his image after UFC 151. He stood his ground against UFC president Dana White and stuck with his beliefs without being drawn into arguments; stayed poised in the face of relentless questioning; and then did the most important thing in showing courage under adversity in the heat of battle.

"I think I have a lot of fans behind me," said Jones. "Obviously there are going to be people who support you, and people who want to see you fall, and that just goes with the position I am in. The biggest thing is focusing on the people who are pulling for you. And want to see you make it and wanting to focus on them."

UFC 152 Notes

"Let me tell you what: If you didn't like that flyweight fight, please, I'm begging you, don't ever buy another UFC pay-per-view again. Don't ever buy another one. I don't want your money. You're a moron, you don't like fighting and you don't appreciate great talent or heart if you didn't like that flyweight fight."

Gee, Dana, tell us what you really think.

I won't go so far as to call the people who disliked Demetrious Johnson's flyweight title win over Joseph Benavidez "morons," (and let's face it, those most loudly decrying White's comments will, in fact, tune in for UFC 153), but sometimes you've just got to wonder.

Johnson's basically a smaller Frankie Edgar, using speed and elusive footwork to frustrate and pick apart his foes. Edgar's rightly lauded throughout the sport for his courage and tenacity, but when Johnson, who like Edgar also spent years going up against bigger opponents, fights the same stye, he's boring and deserves to be booed? Really?

This is the second straight event in which Canadian MMA fans, who have long had a reputation for being more knowledgeable and educated than most, have jeered a good technical fight, on the heels of the Urijah Faber vs. Renan Barao bout at UFC 149 in Calgary. There seems to be a pattern developing here.

UFC 152 Quotes

"People do want to see it. I don't know. Who knows? People do want to see it. If enough people do want to see it, I guess I'd have to make it." -- White, on the possibility of Jones vs. Chael Sonnen

"I could go on and on forever, but the top five pay-per-view draws in this company are Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva, Chael Sonnen makes the list now, Jon Jones and Rashad Evans. So there are your facts, my friend." -- White, as part of his rant against Toronto Star columnist Steve Simmons, the entirety of which you can hear here.

Good Call

To referee "Big" John McCarthy, who seemed to have been teleported straight from the 1990s into the Octagon at the Air Canada Centre on Saturday night. McCarthy put on an officiating clinic in how to call a main-event fight, starting with his first and most important non-call in letting Jones continue despite being stuck deep in Belfort's armbar. A lesser referee might have pulled the trigger in that spot. McCarthy was equally adapt in recognizing Belfort could continue later in the round, despite being deeply cut open by several of Jones' nastiest elbows. Throughout the bout, McCarthy knew when to let the fighters do their thing and when to step in. In other words, he was exactly what you'd expect from a main-event ref. There have undeniably been times in recent years in which McCarthy has looked a step slow, but Saturday night was a vintage performance.

Bad Call

There was nothing egregious at UFC 152, but there's some nitpicky stuff: Like, the stoppage in Kyle Noke's win over Charlie Brenneman came a bit quick. And how did a judge see the flyweight title fight for Benavidez? But all in all, any night which doesn't end with everyone howling about the officials a good one.

Stock Up: Cub Swanson

So how do you think this works over at Jackson's MMA? Does Greg Jackson hold nightly "how to kill the sport" training sessions, but make attendance optional? Is there a line painted down the middle of the gym, like some sort of wacky ‘80s sitcom, leaving the exciting fighters to train on one side of the gym, and the boring ones on the other side? Either way, Swanson, a Jackson's product, doesn't seem to agree with White's "sport-killing" take on his coach. He's been one of 2012's most consistently exciting fighters, with three KO/TKO wins to his credit and back-to-back Fight of the Night awards. After his highlight-reel finish of Charles Oliveira on Saturday night, Swanson, the winner of four out of his past five fights, has earned the chance to test himself against an upper-echelon 145er.

Stock Down: Matt Hamill

I don't mean this to come off as disrespect to Hamill, because I'll always respect someone who overcame his disability and got as far as he did. But as I watched his fight with Roger Hollett, I couldn't shake the thought that Hamill might have best stayed retired. It's not that Hamill isn't a competent fighter, he is. But he's also one who had multiple chances against elite competition before he took time off, and he came up short in each fight. While Hamill got his hand raised at UFC 152, I saw nothing during Hamill's fight that suggested his game will evolve. And if that's the case, what's the point?

Fight I want to See Next: Michael Bisping vs. Chris Weidman. The UFC seems eager to push Bisping into an undeniably bankable title fight with Anderson Silva, even if White stopped just a bit short of saying so Saturday. Weidman's boosters put on blinders and act as though he's the only logical choice to fight Silva. But the truth is, neither guy has a clear-cut case for the next shot. At this point, only the most irrational Bisping hater won't give him his due as a much-improved fighter. But Bisping hasn't come close to cleaning out the pack. And Weidman, while clearly a star in the making, still only has one victory of note to his credit. I know I'm looking past Tim Boetsch, Weidman's next opponent, and that Boetsch seems to derive magic powers from being counted out. But Bisping vs. Weidman intrigues me. A victory over Weidman would give Bisping's credibility the final boost he needs for a title shot; a win over Bisping would give Weidman the big-name win he needs to bolster his profile. Whether you think Weidman is No. 1 contender and Bisping No. 2 or vice versa, there's only one way to settle it.

Grid View

• UFC 152 Photos Jon Jones is almost caught in an armbar by Vitor Belfort during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Vitor Belfort enters the Octagon during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Jon Jones gets ready for his fight during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Jon Jones gets ready for his fight during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photo Vitor Belfort is checked out after the first round during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Vitor Belfort is kicked in the head by Jon Jones during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Jon Jones gets some advice between rounds during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Jon Jones tries to finish Vitor Belfort during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Brittney Palmer signals the beginning of the fourth round during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Jon Jones fends off a leg kick by Vitor Belfort during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Jon Jones kicks Vitor Belfort during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Jon Jones pulls off an Americana submission against Vitor Belfort during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Jon Jones is awarded the win over Vitor Belfort during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Jon Jones celebrates his UFC 152 victory during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Vitor Belfort is attended to after his fight during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Jon Jones celebrates after defending his title during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Jon Jones and Vitor Belfort chat after their fight during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Jon Jones poses with his team after his win at UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Jon Jones holds his injured arm after his win at UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Demetrious Johnson gets ready for his fight during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Joseph Benavidez gets ready for his fight during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez battle each other during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Joseph Benavidez punches Demetrious Johnson during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Joseph Benavidez punches Demetrious Johnson during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Demetrious Johnson punches Joseph Benavidez during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Joseph Benavidez tries to take down Demetrious Johnson during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Demetrious Johnson tries to hit Joseph Benavidez during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Joseph Benavidez and Demetrious Johnson exchange shots during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Joseph Benavidez hits Demetrious Johnson during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Joseph Benavidez tries to submit Demetrious Johnson during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Demetrious Johnson slams Joseph Benavidez during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Demetrious Johnson earns the decision during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Demetrious Johnson becomes the first UFC flyweight champ during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Demetrious Johnson celebrates with his team during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Michael Bisping is pumped up before his fight during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Brian Stann gets ready for his fight during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Fans make their way to their seats at the Air Canada Centre on Sat, Sept. 12, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Michael Bisping drills Brian Stann during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Michael Bisping hits Brian Stann during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Brian Stann kicks Michael Bisping during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Michael Bisping hits Brian Stann with a left during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Brian Stann connects with a right during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Michael Bisping takes Brian Stann down during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Michael Bisping and Brian Stann exchange shots during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Michael Bisping and Brian Stann hug during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Michael Bisping earns the decision win during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Charles Oliveira gets ready for his fight during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Cub Swanson stares across the Octagon during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Cub Swanson tries to fend off the takedown by Charles Oliveira during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Cub Swanson delivers a potent body shot during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Cub Swanson drills Charles Oliveira during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Charles Oliveira was knocked out in the first round during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Roger Hollett strikes Matt Hamill in the face during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Matt Hamill tries to finish Roger Hollett during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Matt Hamill gets the decision win over Roger Hollett during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Cub Swanson smiles after his impressive win during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Charles Oliveira receives medical attention during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Cub Swanson, middle, celebrates his knockout win with his team during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Vinny Magalhaes gets ready for his return during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Vinny Magalhaes looks to finish Igor Pokrajac during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Vinny Magalhaes submits Igor Pokrajac during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Vinny Magalhaes celebrates his win during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Vinny Magalhaes celebrates his win during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Evan Dunham gets ready for his fight during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos TJ Grant punches Evan Dunham during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos TJ Grant punches Evan Dunham during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos TJ Grant strikes Evan Dunham during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos TJ Grant kicks Evan Dunham during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos A very bloody Evan Dunham battles TJ Grant during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Evan Dunham strikes TJ Grant during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos TJ Grant earns a decision win over Evan Dunham during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Lance Benoist hits Sean Pierson in the face during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Lance Benoist and Sean Pierson exchange shots during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Sean Pierson, left, strikes Lance Benoist during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Lance Benoist connects with a short right against Sean Pierson during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Lance Pierson connects with a left during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Lance Benoist connects again during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Sean Pierson celebrates his unanimous decision win over Lance Benoist during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Jimy Hettes nails Marcus Brimage in the face with a knee during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Marcus Brimage strikes Jimy Hettes during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Marcus Brimage delivers another shot during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Marcus Brimage hits Jimy Hettes in the face during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Marcus Brimage delivers another shot to the face of Jimy Hettes during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Marcus Brimage earned a unanimous decision win over Jimy Hettes during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Seth Baczynski rocks Simeon Thoresen during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos The ref pulls Seth Baczynski away after his first-round knockout during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Simeon Thoresen is attended to after getting knocked out during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Seth Baczynski celebrates his knockout win during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Mitch Gagnon punches Walel Watson during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Mitch Gagnon looks to finish Walel Watson during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Mitch Gagnon submits Walel Watson during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Mitch Gagnon celebrates his submission victory during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Kyle Noke kicks Charlie Brenneman in the face during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.
• UFC 152 Photos Kyle Noke celebrates his first-round knockout win during UFC 152 at the Air Canada Centre on Sat., Sept. 22, 2012 in Toronto.