Aleksandar Rakic Thinks He Has The Tools To Beat Jon Jones

Light heavyweight prospect Aleksandar Rakic believes he has the tools to defeat current champion Jon Jones.

Rakic announced himself to the division following a vicious head kick knockout of Jimi Manuwa at UFC Stockholm this past weekend (Sat. June 1, 2019). It puts him at 4-0 since making his UFC debut, as well as 12-straight wins since suffering defeat in his pro debut back in 2011.

But how does the 27-year-old feel he matches up with the current kingpin of the division in Jones?

“I’m an all-round fighter like him, so it would be a great fight to fight him,” Rakic said at the post-fight press conference (via MMA Fighting). “I watched Jon Jones for a long time and I think what I can say now, the advantage I have over him is my footwork and my speed in the punches.

“I think I’m much faster than him and I have more power to finish a fight with one punch, and the footwork.”

While Rakic is confident in his abilities, he acknowledges he needs more experience before he can challenge one of the greatest fighters of all time:

“I think to fight for the title, I need a couple more fights,” Rakic added. “I need to improve all my skills because to take a title fight against Jon Jones or someone else, it’s hard, you have to be prepared not 100 percent, you [have] to be prepared 200 percent.

“I’m 27 years old, I don’t want to rush, I have plenty of time and you see after every fight in the UFC I’m getting better and better.”

Rakic started his UFC career with two decision wins, but has now strung together two knockouts in a row. If he continues to improve, we may see the Austrian challenge for the title soon.