Jon Jones defeats ‘Rampage’ Jackson, defends UFC title

Jones successfully defends UFC title against Jackson

A 24-year-old secures the light-heavyweight crown. Matt Hughes is knocked out early.

The changing of the guard is now official, and Jon Jones has assumed the throne.

Defending his UFC light-heavyweight title for the first time Saturday night, Jones made easy work of former champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson with a fourth-round submission victory.

Since taking the title from Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in March, Jones was thought to be on the verge of becoming the most dominant champion in UFC history — at 24 and before he had defended his title.

But Jones (14-1, 8-1 UFC) backed up the hype, using a creative barrage of striking through three rounds before taking Jackson’s back early in the fourth to sink in a fight-ending rear naked choke. Jackson (32-9, 7-3 UFC) was finished for the first time in the UFC.

“The game plan was to prove we could strike with Jackson,” Jones said. “He insulted me by saying I had no punching power, so we cleaned up my striking to prove a point, and I think we did that.”

Jackson said Jones is the real deal.

“I expected to come out here and close the distance and overthrow Jon Jones,” Jackson said. “But the kid is good, and I believe the hype. This is the best I’ve ever been, but Jon Jones is here to stay. He had me mesmerized.”

In the co-main event at Denver’s Pepsi Center, Matt Hughes was hoping for a Hall of Fame ending to his career. It didn’t happen — though Hughes (46-9, 18-7 UFC) refused to say he will retire.

The former UFC welterweight champion, considered the most dominant 170-pounder, was knocked out with one second left in the first round by Josh Koscheck (18-5, 14-5 UFC).

“I just want to say thanks to Matt Hughes for taking this fight late in his career. He’s a legend,” Koscheck said. “I’m really proud to fight him.”

The fight was the last on Hughes’ UFC contract.

“I’m not retiring,” Hughes, an Eastern Illinois wrestling product, said after the loss. “I’m going to tell the UFC to put me up on a shelf, and we’ll see what happens after that.”

sports@latimes.com

The Associated Press contributed to this report.