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The tone of the fight was set early as Jones relied almost entirely on kicks, while Gustafsson preferred to throw hands. It was Jones early, with a spinning back kick he would go back to over and over again throughout the fight and a variety of attacks on Gustafsson's lead leg, including kicks directed at his knee cap.

"They're a little controversial," announcer Joe Rogan said. "Because they hyperextend the knee if they land correctly."

At 3:33, Gustafsson countered a leg kick with a right hand up the middle. The UFC promoted this fight based on the challenger's reach, and here was an example of it coming into play. He followed it up with a lead left hook, another technique that would define the night.

Just about halfway through the first round, the whole bout was thrown into chaos. Both men threw right hands. Gustafsson's landed.

"Glanced," Rogan said. "It didn't land clean."

In this case, however, glancing was even better than a solid connection. Jones was cut above his right eye, an injury that would bother him throughout the fight.

Gustafsson was buoyed by the sight of blood, perhaps, and landed a strong combination. Jones returned to the leg kick, occasionally mixing in a spinning back kick that landed way more often than you'd expect from such a slowly developing strike.

With a minute left, Gustafsson, who had defended a couple of takedown attempts by Jones, took the champion to the mat.

"First time in the UFC," announcer Mike Goldberg said. It wouldn't last long. In 15 seconds, Jones was back to his feet, bringing things to a crashing halt with an eye poke.

"Both of you are sticking your fingers out," referee "Big" John McCarthy admonished.

When the action commenced, Jones was on a rampage. He landed a spinning elbow and followed up a missed takedown with a strong elbow to the face to close the round.

Jones' Best Moment

The elbow to close the round.

Gustafsson's Best Moment

A hard counter that made Jones pay for a low leg kick.

Stats

Total Strikes: Jones 28, Gustafsson 19

Takedowns: Jones 0-3, Gustafsson 1-1

FightMetric Performance Rating: Gustafsson 51, Jones 45

Score

10-9 Jones

I scored this for Gustafsson when watching live. Seeing it again, with the benefit of time and the DVR, I think Jones squeaked it out.

Jones scored the harder shots and did so more frequently. The flurry at the end of the round sealed the deal.