Jon Jones has a new respect for Rashad Evans; why you should, too

After defending the UFC light heavyweight belt on Saturday over Rashad Evans, Jon Jones said he had a new respect for his former training partner and friend.

"I would say Rashad is my toughest fight to date, and a lot of it is because of how talented and awesome of a fighter he is," Jones said after beating Evans in a five-round decision.

Since winning and defending the title, Jones has finished former champs Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, and Lyoto Machida. Evans is the first fighter ever to force Jones into the fifth round, and the first fighter to require judges' cards since Stephan Bonnar in 2009. Evans was wobbled several times throughout the fight, but was still standing for the final horn.

Somehow, there were still fans who were unsatisfied with Saturday's main event. On Cagewriter's Facebook page, one reader said Evans had no heart. Another called the fight boring, while another claimed Evans didn't want the fight.

Seriously?

Evans trained for months and months to face a man he once called his friend. He cut down his weight, went through countless interviews, had cameras follow him around incessantly for "Primetime," then traveled to Atlanta and got in a cage with someone who is considered one of the world's best fighters. He withstood elbows, punches and kicks for 25 minutes. At the end of it all, he lost, but was still standing.

And there are actually fans who think Evans did not want to be in there? For the final word on the subject, let's hear from the great Baltimore boxer (and fictional character), Dennis "Cutty" Wise.

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