News that grizzled MMA veteran Vladimir Matyushenko would face Jon “Bones” Jones in a summer UFC event on Versus was greeted with lots of squinting and groaning. Matyushenko is 39, hasn’t main-evented in forever, Jones is being brought along in a stroller, etc, etc.
But Matyushenko has lost only four times in a career dating back to 1997. Whether he’s been more or less effective recently than Matt Hamill or Brandon Vera is subjective, but what’s not arguable is the idea that Matyushenko will present a new set of obstacles: physical maturity and a serious aversion to being manhandled in the way Jones is used to doling out.
The only shame would be to hurry Jones along based on his early results: other fighters who showed early developmental promise ran into brick walls. (B.J Penn fought for a world title in only his fourth pro fight -- and lost.) The “name” light-heavyweights are tied up throughout the summer. UFC matchmaking can often suffer from redundant or mercenary thinking, but not in this booking. It’s the right fight for the right reasons.