Jon Jones, Gegard Mousasi: Fighters to Watch in the Next Ten Years

Sherdog's Thomas Rios posts a list of six fighters that he expects to dominate the next decade. I think two of them have truly excellent prospects:

Jon Jones
Age: 22
Promotion: UFC
Class: Light Heavyweight

Imagine a video game character come to life, and you have a good idea of what it’s like to watch Jones compete inside the cage. Known for a repertoire of incredible throws and sweeps, backed by a striking game that features moves like spinning back elbows, he seems the kind of fighter who could redefine the modern mixed martial artist.

While Jones’ synthesis of technique and talent made him a highlight reel regular long ago, his decision to train with Greg Jackson and Firas Zahabi may be remembered as the move that made him a superstar. With two of the sport’s best trainers by his side, the decade to come could be the one in which Jones makes the transition from exceptional talent to unforgettable fighter.

Gegard Mousasi
Age: 24
Promotion: Strikeforce
Class: Light Heavyweight

The beauty of a sport as dynamic as MMA is that charisma is better expressed inside the cage than on the microphone. There can be no better example of this axiom than Mousasi, who, despite having the personality of drying paint, has become a fan favorite thanks to a unique fighting style and a flair for the exotic.

Hitting leg sweeps off one’s back as easily as one uncorks a high kick will secure one plenty of followers, and Mousasi’s ability to keep his opponents perpetually off guard while staying remarkably composed sets him apart from so many of his contemporaries. That trend looks like it will continue in the decade to come, as Mousasi has only now started to find his groove at light heavyweight and has made no secret of his plans to move to the heavyweight class someday.

The others on his list are:

• Ben Askren -- too many question marks, was a poor defensive wrestler even in amateur wrestling competition, no indication of how he'll deal with top level MMA competition, no indication he'll develop a credible striking game. I have high hopes for Askren, but it's far too early to say he'll be a major star, much less a dominant star of the next decade.
  
• Cain Velasquez and Muhammad "King Mo" Lawal -- both of whom I reject by saying they're already 27 and 28 and at their athletic peaks and yet only beginning their MMA careers. I think we're long past the days of Randy Couture and Mark Coleman when a 30-something year old wrestler could enter MMA, immediately compete at the top of the sport and go on to enjoy a decade-long run at the top. Both Cain and King Mo should achieve big things in MMA, maybe even hold major championship belts but I think their chances to be among the truly major stars of the next ten years are next to nil.The next five years sure, the next ten, no.
  
• Jose Aldo I have no qualms with, but he'll have to bring his whole division up with him to truly be a major star.

Jones and Mousasi on the other hand have already proven that they have mastered all three phases of the game -- striking at range, clinch fighting and ground fighting. Both are very very young and should continue to improve by leaps and bounds as they mature to their physical peaks at ages 28-32. Both have freakishly long reach, incredible power and flexibility and other physical advantages that you either have or you don't.

Of course, bad luck and bad decisions can derail the career of even the most promising athlete. If Jones or Mousasi are reading this, I'd suggest watching The Smashing Machine about 200 times. In 1999 it seemed certain that Mark Kerr was the true can't miss blue chip and that he would go on to utterly eclipse Randy Couture and Mark Coleman in the 2000s.