mixed martial arts Jones regains UFC title belt

Associated Press

ANAHEIM, Calif.

Jon Jones reached the pinnacle of mixed martial arts and then fell harder than just about anyone ever had before.

When he got back on top Saturday night by stopping his greatest rival in dramatic style, Jones vowed to appreciate everything he had lost and regained.

Jones reclaimed his UFC light heavyweight title by stopping Daniel Cormier in the third round with a vicious head kick and a finish on the ground at UFC 214, completing his rocky journey back to the top after 21/2 years of drama with his 14th consecutive victory.

He fended off a stiff challenge from Cormier (19-2), who held the belt for most of the past two years while Jones (23-1) dealt with self-inflicted setbacks outside the cage. His title belt has been stripped twice, and he endured a yearlong suspension for a doping test failure before returning to beat Cormier for the second time.

“I feel like I’m leaving my past behind me and I’m erasing everything I’ve done before,” Jones said. “I feel like this is a step to a new career, a new championship, and I want to be a better champion than I was in the past.”

After 21/2 rounds of even, high-level striking, Jones landed a left head kick that caught Cormier leaning in. The champion staggered backward and then around the cage with Jones in pursuit, and Jones finished the fight on the ground with a series of merciless strikes.

Jones was widely considered the world’s top pound-for-pound mixed martial artist while he held the belt for nearly four years from 2011-15. He beat Cormier by clear decision in their first bout in January 2015, but had fought just one time since.

Jones praised Cormier afterward.

“I want to thank Daniel for being my biggest rival and my biggest motivator,” Jones said.