Mason Jones is synonymous with durability, and MarQuel Mederos wants to be the one to change that.
Jones and Mederos meet in a lightweight matchup at UFC Fight Night 285, which goes down in Sacramento, Calif., on Aug. 22. It’s a big fight for both, as they carry momentum into the matchup with notable unbeaten streaks. Mederos doesn’t just want to get his hand raised, but he also wants to pull off a first against Jones.
Advertisement
“My hand raised, 100 percent, and I want to be the first guy to finish Mason Jones,” Mederos told MMA Junkie Radio. “He’s never been finished. I want to be the first one.”
Apart from toughness and durability, fans always expect Jones to bring forward pressure and violence. That is precisely what Mederos is expecting from the Welsh fighter, which plays right into his plan for the fight.
“Oh, we know Mason, and Mason is not showing up to half-step,” Mederos said. “Mason is coming to get in your face, so I’ll have my answers August 22, and I hope you tune in so you can see them.”
Mederos only has one pro defeat, which came in a split decision outside the UFC banner in 2022. Since the loss, Mederos has compiled nine wins and one draw in his 10 fights. The draw came in his most recent outing back in April against Chris Padilla.
Advertisement
Mederos feels he has all the potential to become champion at 155 pounds; it’ll just come down to time and how he handles himself in MMA politics and outside the cage.
“It’s a weird game,” Mederos explained. “If you’re talking skill-wise, I think by 2027 I can be ready; towards the end of 2027 I can be ready. But the UFC is like playing a chess game. It’s not just about your skill level; it’s about the media, and that’s stuff I have to work on. I got to work on putting myself out there and getting more social media, because you get to skip the line when you have a presence and are putting asses in seats. Skills-wise, yeah, I’ll be ready before 2028. On the media side, that’s going to be the aspect we’re going to have to work on.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: MarQuel Mederos aims to be the first to stop Mason Jones
