Mason Jones: Welsh fighter aims to show UFC 'they made a mistake'

Mason Jones is ready to show the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) "they made a mistake" in not settling contract negotiations, having impressed since leaving the promotion.

Jones had a mixed run in the UFC, with a win, two losses and a no contest following an accidental eye poke.

Talks on a second UFC deal broke down, with the Welshman instead opting to test free agency.

He has since beaten Alexandre Ribeiro and Yann Liasse in Cage Warriors.

The Dragon goes in search of a third straight win since leaving UFC when he fights America's Bryce Logan at Cage Warriors 166 in San Diego on 23, February.

Jones says he is targeting another strong performance to "show exactly the level" he is at.

"For the two of us I think this is a resurgence fight," Jones told BBC Sport Wales.

"There's been a lot of hype for this fight because this is a very good match-up for those who know and whoever wins this fight is back in fashion.

"Bryce is a tough opponent, probably the toughest test to date outside the UFC, and I'm looking forward to putting on a big performance and a finish.

"I just need to get a win against Bryce.

"The level that he's at, it doesn't matter whether it's a three-round, close decision, it doesn't matter whether I put him away in the first round. I am going to be trying to put him away in the first round.

"I'm prepared for three even though I don't think it'll go three."

Jones says he is keen to avoid complacency after two impressive stoppages.

"Yeah I'm hypercritical of my performances of course," he added.

"We did a lot of analysis, especially the last one, and I should have got that done in the first round instead of letting it go to the second.

"I stayed patient, I didn't rush. They were still high-level guys who were dangerous opponents and I didn't take any damage, so it's always a positive."

Mason Jones (left) is a former two-weight world champion in Cage Warriors

'Scratching the itch'

Having signed with the UFC at the age of 25, Jones, now 28, says he is "not as immature I was".

"I went into London with this fanatical idea that I was going to go out there and become a hero and I didn't go out there with the professional mindset of playing chess with the 1% of the 1%," he added.

"I ended up falling and again it was a three-round decision where for most of it he held me down. I got knocked down but not really dropped. It's irritating."

"It's been three years [since then]. It doesn't sound like a lot but they are maturity years, and I've been through a lot.

"For me it's [about] fighting the best in the world and I can do that in other organisations too, not just the UFC.

"It genuinely feels like I've got chicken pox, my skin is scratching because I know I could have done so much more [in UFC]. So for me it's about going out there and showing people I am going to be number one in the world."

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