The UFC’s return to Fight Island to kick off 2021 was a smashing success this past Saturday. Now, mere days later, the promotion is putting on a rare mid-week show. The UFC Fight Island 8 card is headlined between two welterweight contenders in Neil Magny and Michael Chiesa. Also on the card, a boatload of rising up-and-comers and a slew of UFC debuts. Among them, former Cage Warriors double champ Mason Jones will be making his UFC debut against Mike Davis (8-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC).
Mason “The Dragon” Jones
5’10″
Lightweight
25-years-old
Blaenavon, Wales
Pedro Bessa BJJ
10-0
4 KO/TKOs
3 Submissions
How will Jones fare in the UFC:
Jones is a scrapper, an in-your-face volume puncher. He is a gritty fighter who loves to fight in close quarters with dirty boxing. Jones is so good in the clinch digging at the body, throwing short strikes, nasty elbows, and fight-ending knees. Jones mixes it up better than anyone in the clinch as he will just make his opponents’ lives very difficult in close range. “The Dragon” has an excellent jab usually doubling up and following with combinations. Jones does a fantastic job keeping busy with combinations. He will go body-head often while throwing a lot of leg kicks in combinations. He’s always throwing something different and always coming forward with constant pressure. Jones does slow down but his output and work rate stay progressive.
Jones is a solid wrestler as well and when he mixes that in with his striking, it’s when he’s at his best. He’s shown to do well timing his level changes and getting takedowns trapping a leg and shifting his hips for the takedown. Jones brings vicious ground and pound to the table when on top landing a lot of elbows. Sometimes he’s submission before position, but his jiu-jitsu is overlooked. Jones is tough as nails but can be too tough for his own good. Jones has no issue eating shots to give some of his own which is why he always wears damage. So far, his chin has held up but still needs to move his head more. Overall, Jones is a solid fighter and someone the UFC brass will love having on their roster.
- Striking: A
- Kickboxing: A-
- Clinch: A+
- Wrestling: B
- Grappling: B
- Striking Defense: C+
- Takedown Defense: C+
- Cardio: B-
- Biggest Strength: Output/Volume
- Biggest Weakness: Striking defense
How does Jones match up with Davis:
One thing I can guarantee from this fight is that it will be a war. Both men are excellent strikers who are super technical. Both don’t care about taking damage to dish it out and that will make for a very fun scrap. Jones and Davis each have underrated wrestling and grappling. Jones has beaten the better competition, which might make him a slightly better wrestler and grappler. This fight is going come down to who has more heart. Davis, with two UFC fights under his belt, is who I’m leaning towards, but only slightly.
