Jon Jones wasn't able to finish Rashad Evans, but he controlled a large portion of the bout and easily picked up a unanimous decision victory in the main event of UFC 145. Rashad was able to get his licks in on occasion, but Jones landed stiff shots that staggered Rashad multiple times in the bout and Rashad was never really in it. His elbows were particularly effective. The judges had it 49-46, 49-46, and 50-45 for Jones, who defended his UFC light heavyweight title for the third time. Both fighters gave each other props in their post-fight interviews.

Jones opened the bout with a body shot. It was Bones coming forward early, and he threw a big head kick. Rashad waded inside, but ate a good knee for his troubles. Jones missed with a looping right, and Rashad responded with two straight punches. Jones landed a head kick and a looping right, along with a leg kick. Jones again went back to the head kick, and landed a nice jab. Jones landed a left hook, but Rashad responded with a leg kick. Jones was definitely the one with more offense over the first four minutes of the fight. Jones returned to the jab and left hook, and once again Rashad responded with a leg kick. Evans landed a head kick of his own, and Jones backed off. Jones looked for a flying knee but missed, and Jones ended the first stanza with a right hook.

Evans landed a few punches inside early in the second, but Jones staggered him with a left. Rashad landed a nice left, and caught Jones with a kick while Jones as wading in. Jones strafed Rashad with an elbow, and another one, which briefly dropped Evans. He popped up and clinched. Jones held him against the fence and landed a knee to the thigh, then strafed him with yet another elbow. Jones threw a head kick, while Evans looked to land to the body. Jones went back to the elbows and found success. Rashad was still there though, and landed a nice right hook. Jones looked for a flying knee with 10 seconds to go, and the fighters exchanged punches to finish the second round.

More after the jump.

SBN coverage of UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans

Rashad landed a big overhand right thirty seconds into the third, which backed Jones off for a second. He responded with a right hook of his own. Both fighters swung and missed with right hooks. Jones was finally able to connect with a flush kick. The pace of the first half of this round was a bit slower than the second. Jones wobbled Rashad again with a kick and looked for a flying knee, but Rashad responded well. The fighters traded in the pocket a bit, with neither one getting a real advantage. Jones started to land more body and leg kicks. Evans shot in for a takedown, but it was easily stuffed by Bones. Evans connected with a nice body shot near the end of the round.

The pace continued to be a bit slower in the fourth, with each fighter not connecting on much over the first minute. Jones looked for a spinning elbow but Evans was well out of the way. Jones landed a few jabs and some leg kicks. Jones caught a leg kick and hit Evans with a right hook. Evans went for a takedown, but was easily rebuffed. Jones dropped his hands to see what Rashad would do, but he didn't do anything. Jones started hopping around and changed stances, and once again stuffed a takedown attempt. He briefly thought about a guillotine, but let it go. Rashad looked for the home run right hand, but couldn't connect. Jones started throwing shoulder checks in the clinch, which was odd.

Rashad landed a leg kick while Jones danced around the outside to open the fifth and final round. Jones backed Evans against the cage, then landed a big right. Rashad tried to throw, but Jones was out of range before he could ever come close to connecting. Jones winged the right again, but this time Rashad ducked out of the way. Rashad went for a spinning backfist, but it wasn't close. Jones hit a jumping knee and worked Evans against the cage. They clinched up and heard some boos from the crowd. Jones landed a left hook when they finally separate. Jones went back to the clinch shoulder checks, then threw Evans to the ground. Jones couldn't capitalize though, and Evans popped up. Evans attacked in the last thirty seconds, but Jones inexplicably pulled guard with 10 seconds to go. The bout ended with Evans trying to land punches on the ground unsuccessfully.