Sports

Jon ‘Bones’ Jones talks about new video game, title bout with Evans

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is one of the biggest stars in the world of MMA and will face off against his archrival Rashad Evans at UFC 145, but his focus at the moment is on THQ’s latest installment in its popular “Undisputed” video game franchise.

“I love [UFC Undisputed 3], I’m actually playing it right now,” Jones told The Post. “It’s a major upgrade the graphics are sweet, everything seems to be moving faster. [THQ’s] done a great job, it’s a lot more realistic.”

Nearly two years after the release of UFC Undisputed 2011, UFC Undisputed 3 is THQ’s most-polished UFC title to date. Jones, who also goes by the nickname “Bones,” couldn’t stop raving about the upgrades made this time around.

“There’s better fatigue, guys actually get tired now when you leg kick and the takedown rates are better than before, you actually get a lot of your takedowns now,” Jones said. “They have way more players in it, I think there’s something like 50 different characters. It’s as real as it gets.”

Jones was also happy that the developers were able to put a more realistic version of him in the game, even taking a few liberties in the muscularity department.

“I was a little mad about last game. They had none of my tattoos in it,” Jones said. “They gave me more muscle than I actually have so I like that. This time around they made me super man, I have no complaints.”

Even though he’s “superman” in the game, Jones didn’t use his own character the first time he picked up the controller. Instead, he went right for one of the game’s newest features, the Pride Fighting circuit, which features the colorful commentary of former Pride fighter Bas Ruten.

“The first time I played, I used, Mark Hunt in Pride,” Jones said.

Away from the video games, Jones’ highly-publicized feud with his former training partner Rashad Evans will finally culminate in April at UFC 145, when the two go head-to-head with Jones’ title on the line. April’s meeting will be the third scheduled bout between the two, with the first two getting canceled due to a hand injury to Jones and a subsequent thumb injury to Evans.

“I’m stoked for it to happen and to finally get past Rashad,” Jones told The Post. “He’s been the antagonist for most of my career and I want to get it over with once and for all. There’s a lot of baggage and drama, it’ll be good to finally clear the air and get to see who is better.”

Jones and Evans were training partners with the Albuquerque-based Jackson’s MMA, but following Jones’ ascent to win UFC’s light heavyweight title, a feud began to brew between Evans and Jones, and at this point, there is no love lost between the two.

“Everything is legit, we definitely don’t like each other,” Jones said. “It will be a great performance, but it’s also a pride thing, neither of us wants to lose to each other.”

The two are also very familiar with the other’s style and technique, but Jones notes that he is a very different fighter than the one Evans used to train with.

“I’m definitely familiar with his style,” Jones said. “My style had changed, I’ve gotten faster, stronger, now I know how to compete, how to box. [Evans] has already been in his prime and now may be on the other side of the hill.

“I think [Evans] knows that I’ve grown so much. We both know each other and how dangerous we can be. He won’t underestimate me and I won’t underestimate him.”

Jones had even taken his battle with Evans into the virtual world, playing out the fight in UFC Undisputed 3.

“Before you called that’s actually what I was doing,” Jones said. “We were tied 1-to-1. Both ended by TKO. I think I’m going to whoop his butt [in the third match].”

UFC Undisputed 3 is available now for Xbox 360 and PS3. The Post’s Game Report will have a full review available later this week.

Jones’ match against Evans will take place on April 21 during the UFC 145 pay-per-view.