“The Dragon” Mason Jones burns Axel Sola in thrilling top UFC London prelim

Mason Jones and Axel Sola produced more spins than a washing machine. Serving as the preliminary headliner in the easiest call for “Fight of the Night” in recent memory, Jones and Sola (11-1-1, 1-1 UFC) collided in an absolute rip-snorter for three bloody, tantalizing rounds. The two threw caution to the wind across 15 violent minutes in their featured UFC Fight Night 270 prelim on Saturday at the O2 Arena in London.

Jones (18-2, 1 NC; 4-2, 1 NC UFC) took home the grizzly victory with one score of 30-27 and a pair of 29-28 tallies, all in his favor, in a back-and-forth battle that will be remembered for some time. Sola dazzled early with a spinning back fist that put the Welshman down but not out, and although Jones recovered to rip open a gash on Sola’s cheek, he had plenty of ground to reclaim. Jones put forth a full-throated effort, even launching a tornado kick to the body where he ended up in too close range.

Jones constant attacks transformed the Frenchman’s face to a crimson mask, as he picked up steam and drilled Sola with high kicks and knees on the jaw. Sola went to the well several more times with spins, but he never could catch Jones with another quite as cleanly. Jones ended the match firmly in the driver’s seat, rocking the French fighter repeatedly with head kicks and knees that oft-placed Sola on rubber legs.

Sola gathered his thoughts to dump Jones square on his head, but it did not shift the momentum, as Jones shook out the cobwebs and unleashed a fury to conclude their banger with a veritable avalanche of offense. “The Dragon” becomes the first fighter to beat the former Ares FC champ as a pro. Nathaniel Wood (23-6, 11-3 UFC) tangled with the debuting Losene Keita (16-2, 0-1 UFC) in an extremely tight featherweight contest, one that did not remotely reflect the betting line where Keita closed as a favorite around -285.