In the Octagon hunkered the champion Jon Jones, a lanky but formidable figure, monstrous in height with chorded muscles, both arms touching the canvas as he crawls forward stalking his opponent. His hair is cropped short, but his beard is a tangled mess. He looks every bit the part of apex predator readying to attack a grazing gazelle.
But across the eight-sided ring is another wild beast and a former champion, Vitor Belfort. His hair is trimmed like a famous actor. He is well conditioned with broad shoulders and sledgehammer fist. He glances at his opponent, the condescendingly young athlete, with determination in his eyes.
The two fighters meet at the center of the Octagon, their first strikes are mere feelers, each man testing the reach and coordination of his rival. The fluid and agile Jones steps in and out of the contact, while the bullish Belfort shadowez him and advances forward.
And then Jones pounces, leaping at the legs of Belfort, but Vitor deflected the takedown attempt and lands a few lighting fast punches from close range. Belfort lands a right hook to the jaw of the champ sending him backwards.
Jones switches tactics and begin exaggerating his movements in an attempt to force Belfort into a blunder. He is luring Belfort into a false sense of security, while he readies for a fatal assault. A flying knee and elbow land for Jones, and low kicks to the legs scores as well. The challenger is now caught in a guessing game.
Vitor trudges forward punching rather than thinking, he has reverted to a primal animalistic style, in an attempt to pummel his opponent. The punches are thudding and swift. Jones paws at him to keep the distance.
There is only a minute remaining in the first round, and Belfort eyes the clock nervously. He has exerted a substantial amount of energy chasing the champion around the cage. He looks to pace himself for the remainder of the round.
It is in this moment that the champion senses an opportunity and lunges forward with a kryptonian punch that sends Belfort to the ground. In microseconds the champion has mounted the challengers. He is raining down elbows to Belfort's chest, jaw and face. One elbow connects with such force it splits open a laceration above Belfort's right eye and another elbow shuts off Belfort's lights.
The referee jumps in and ends the championship bout. UFC Undisputed 3 predicts a first round TKO for the UFC light heavyweight champion Jon "Bones" Jones.