Jake O'Brien Wants to Steal Jon Jones' Thunder

Originally posted on MMAweekly.com

Jake O’Brien (11-2) is experiencing a bit of déjà vu. It’s his third time serving as a gatekeeper to a division’s upper level.

The 24-year-old freestyle wrestler turned fighter is 1-1 in the spoiler role, having defeated Pride standout Heath Herring in January 2007 and lost to fast rising Cain Velasquez last July.

On July 11, he’s aiming to rain on another prospect’s parade, Jon Jones, this time as a light heavyweight. Jones is a 21-year-old terror that grabbed headlines with an unconventional, go for broke style that dispatched Andre Gusmao and Stephan Bonnar. O’Brien’s is unconvinced that his opponent is the next big thing.

“Everybody thinks he’s so good right now, and style wise, I think I’m the worst fight he could have,” O’Brien recently told MMAWeekly.com. “The way I fight is a tough match-up for him. I think it will give him more trouble than any other style.”

That style, for the most part, is takedown artist. O’Brien works intensely on his boxing, but he anchors his attack with single and double legs. It’s worked in the past; opponents Josh Shockman, Herring, and Kristof Midoux went to the canvas when they sat on their punches.

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