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Mason Jones (right) hopes to play spoiler against the returning Jeremy Stephens at UFC Des Moines. (Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC)
Mike Roach via Getty Images
Five years ago, anyone in the know on the European MMA scene would’ve confidently told you that Mason Jones was a nightmare matchup for Paddy Pimblett.
The Welsh fighter had just become the lightweight champion of Cage Warriors and “The Baddy” was on the comeback trail after suffering a hand injury that sidelined him for nearly two years — the longest spell of inactivity Pimblett has observed in the sport.
Both debuted in the UFC in 2021, and while Pimblett is currently one of the hottest commodities on the promotion’s books, Jones is now on the rebound as his second stint in the Octagon begins Saturday night when he faces returning hometown hero Jeremy Stephens at UFC Des Moines.
“You’re either on the up or you’re on the down,” Jones told Uncrowned days before their meeting from his hotel room in Des Moines, Iowa, “and when you’re on the down, it is a sharp decline.”
Nobody saw it coming for Jones.
A dynamic talent, he bulldozed his way to the top of the European ladder with a lust for battle that would make Genghis Khan blush. His reward on reaching the UFC was an immediately stern test against heavy-handed Mike Davis, and although Jones' hand wasn’t raised, leaving with a Fight of the Night bonus was a welcome consolation.
In his sophomore outing against Alan Patrick, a peak display of Jones’ powers unfolded. He bludgeoned the Brazilian over the course of the first five minutes to the point that Patrick skipped the stool and sat right on the mat between rounds. He wore a crimson mask just a minute into the second round — but when he was accidentally poked in the eye, Patrick deemed himself unfit to continue.
The no contest made it no wins in two tests for “The Dragon,” and when Patrick pulled out of their expected rematch, current ranked featherweight David Onama stepped in for a short-notice debut. Jones finally secured his first UFC win, but the victorious glow didn’t last long as a subsequent 2022 defeat in his London showdown with veteran striker Ludovik Klein cast doubt on his future with the promotion.
Later that night, with the UFC already preparing to launch the rocket it fastened to Pimblett’s back after his submission over Jordan Leavitt, Jones approached his fellow Cage Warriors alum at his afterparty.
In his unique way, the Liverpudlian offered his commiserations to the Welshman.
“As soon as he saw me, he looked at me as if to say, ‘Awh f***.' But I just shook his hand," Jones recalled. "I said, ‘Congratulations, you’re a superstar now. I’m sorry we didn’t get to fight, but you deserve every bit of credit you get.’ I meant that. I’d never wish anything bad on Paddy, but I’ll admit that I’m envious. I wished that it was me in that spot.”
Six weeks later, Jones’s first UFC stint was over.
The unexpected detour brought a lot of new tension with it. There were fraught family ties, challenges to his long-term relationship and the financial struggles that come with parting sponsors.
Jones dealt with it the same way he dealt with everything in his life up to that point — he worked harder.
Initially, it seemed like a pie in the sky goal when he set out to reclaim his UFC status. Jones went back down the same beaten path he used to enter the fray, claiming four wins under the Cage Warriors banner to stamp his passport back to the big dance.
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Mason Jones' first UFC run did not live up to expectations. (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
Jeff Bottari via Getty Images
His pockets may be a little lighter, but suddenly hope is in abundance for the knockout artist.
“Put it this way, I’ve got some bills to pay,” he says, with a smile that hides the years of burden.
“It just feels like this fight is all about rebuilding my foundations and this is the perfect fight to put me on a rocket ship. Everything will accelerate and I’ll have to work harder. Most people think the hard work is already done when they get to the UFC, but really, it only begins when you reach this point.”
Jones knows that being the main card opener against a storied hometown veteran like Stephens is a great spot to be in. Despite the size difference that will become obvious once the two face off, he knows all too well not to sleep on the hands of “Lil Heathen.”
Hearing that the returning legend has done little or no research on him has added impetus for Jones, who makes no secret of his obsession with studying tape.
You won’t hear a bad remark passed about Jones receiving a second chance on the world’s biggest stage. People have gotten in the habit of telling him how happy he must be with the situation.
“Not yet,” Jones replies each time, knowing from his first tenure how important a win on Saturday night is.
He’s allowed himself to fantasize about the gargantuan stack of pancakes that await him in Texas, where he’ll enjoy a short vacation in the aftermath of the contest, but his real hunger is to be declared a winning UFC fighter again.
“Jeremy is going to expect me to stand there flat-footed and we know that he’s going to come out here swinging," Jones said. "All he wants is a big knockout to impress Conor McGregor with, but when I’m still in there after those first two minutes, he’s going to know he’s in trouble — I’m going to school him.”
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