UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Conor McBragger
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Introduction
UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage. September 24, 2011. Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado. The first UFC pay-per-view event in Denver since The Ultimate Ultimate in 1995 — a gap of 16 years. Jon Jones made his first LHW title defence, submitting Quinton Jackson with a rear-naked choke at 1:14 of round four.
Jones opened the fight by crawling toward Rampage on all fours. He used his 11.5-inch reach advantage throughout and built sustained pressure across three-and-a-half rounds before taking the back and finishing with the choke. Rashad Evans entered the octagon after the fight. The exchange between Jones and Evans was cold and unscripted. Their title fight was already confirmed for the near future.
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Quick Stats
3. The Build-Up
4. Main Event
5. Co-Main Event
6. Full Results
7. Bonuses & Awards
8. Records & Milestones
9. Legacy & Impact
10. FAQ
11. References
Quick Stats
Date: September 24, 2011
Venue: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado, USA (first UFC PPV in Denver since The Ultimate Ultimate in 1995)
Attendance: 14,284
Main Event: Jon Jones (c) vs. Quinton Jackson — UFC LHW Championship
Result: Jones def. Jackson — Sub (RNC) — R4, 1:14 — first title defence; only 2nd time Rampage submitted in career
Notable: Jones crawled on all fours to open; Rashad Evans post-fight icy callout; Koscheck KOs Hughes; Nate Diaz Sub Night; $75k bonuses
The Build-Up
Jones’ first title defence was originally against Rashad Evans at UFC 133. A hand injury forced Jones out and the fight was rescheduled. Rampage was the replacement challenger; he had won two straight fights including a decision over Matt Hamill at UFC 130. Rashad Evans was confirmed as the next challenger after UFC 135 regardless of the result.
Main Event
Jon Jones (c) vs. Quinton Jackson — UFC LHW Championship
Jones walked to the centre of the octagon, then dropped to all fours and crawled toward Rampage. The psychological statement was immediate. He used his reach and unorthodox striking combination throughout rounds one through three, with Rampage unable to find his range. Jones absorbed some right hands without flinching.
Early in round four, Jones secured a takedown, worked to Rampage’s back, and locked in the rear-naked choke. Rampage tapped at 1:14. It was only the second submission loss of Rampage Jackson’s career. Jones was 23 years old and had now made his first title defence.
Post-fight, Rashad Evans entered the octagon. He and Jones exchanged brief, icy words. Evans said he was getting the title; Jones said he was ready for him. The exchange had none of the manufactured energy of typical pre-fight callouts. They genuinely disliked each other.
Co-Main Event
Josh Koscheck vs. Matt Hughes — Welterweight
Koscheck landed a right hand that put Hughes on the canvas and finished with follow-up punches. The stoppage came in round two. Hughes, who had been knocked out by Penn at UFC 123, was now stopped again. His future in MMA was unclear following the defeat.
Full Results
Preliminary Card (Facebook / Spike TV)
James Te Huna def. Ricardo Romero — KO — R1 — LHW
Takeya Mizugaki def. Cole Escovedo — KO — R1 — BW
Junior Assunção def. Eddie Yagin — Decision — R3 — FW
Tony Ferguson def. Aaron Riley — TKO — R1 — LW; Ferguson UFC debut
Main Card
Tim Boetsch def. Nick Ring — KO — R? — MW
Mark Hunt def. Ben Rothwell — Decision — R3 — HW
Nate Diaz def. Takanori Gomi — Submission (RNC) — R2 — LW; Sub Night ($75k to Diaz)
Josh Koscheck def. Matt Hughes — KO — R2 — WW; Co-Main
UFC LHW Championship — Main Event
Jon Jones def. Quinton Jackson — Submission (RNC) — R4, 1:14 — LHW Championship; Jones crawled on all fours at bell; Fight of the Night ($75k each)
Bonuses & Awards
Fight of the Night: Jon Jones vs. Quinton Jackson — $75,000 to each fighter.
Sub of the Night: Nate Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi — $75,000 to Diaz.
Records & Milestones
First UFC PPV in Denver since The Ultimate Ultimate in 1995 — a gap of 16 years.
Only second submission loss of Quinton Jackson’s career.
Tony Ferguson UFC debut — TKO win over Aaron Riley; began a LW career that produced one of the sport’s longest win streaks.
Legacy & Impact
UFC 135 settled Jones’ first title defence against a credible former champion. Rampage had won two straight and was physically prepared. Jones’ crawl at the opening bell was a statement of psychological control. His performance across four rounds was composed, varied, and ended with the most fundamental submission in MMA.
The Evans confrontation post-fight was the most anticipated outcome of the evening. Two former teammates, both at the peak of their careers, in the same octagon for the first time as champion and contender. The real fight at UFC 135 was the 30-second exchange between Jones and Evans after the Jackson fight was over.
FAQ
Was UFC 135 Jones' first title defence?
Yes. UFC 135 was Jon Jones’ first successful LHW title defence. He had won the title from Shogun Rua at UFC 128 in March 2011; the defence was originally planned for UFC 133 but was delayed by a hand injury.
What did Jon Jones do at the start of the UFC 135 main event?
Jones walked to the centre of the octagon, then dropped to all fours and crawled toward Rampage. It was an unorthodox psychological tactic that became one of the most discussed opening moments in UFC title fight history.
Had Rampage Jackson been submitted before UFC 135?
Yes, but only once. Rampage had been submitted by Wanderlei Silva early in his career. The Jones submission at UFC 135 was only the second time Rampage had tapped in professional competition.
What happened between Jones and Rashad Evans at UFC 135?
After Jones finished Rampage, Rashad Evans entered the octagon and challenged him directly. The exchange was brief and genuinely cold. Evans was the confirmed next challenger for the LHW title, and both men knew it.
When was the last UFC PPV in Denver before UFC 135?
The last UFC PPV in Denver before UFC 135 was The Ultimate Ultimate in 1995 — a 16-year gap.
References
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