Three years ago, Fabricio Andrey beat him. On Friday, Owen Jones walked out of Lumpinee Stadium with the decision.
The 21-year-old Brit claimed a split-decision victory over Andrey in featherweight submission grappling action at ONE Fight Night 44 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, June 26, moving to 17-6. The debut erased a loss that had been sitting with him since he was 18 years old.
“Yeah man, it feels good. Obviously, nothing better than some revenge, you know? He beat me three years ago when I was like an 18-year-old. So, to show that I’ve leveled up a lot since then and like have a super competitive match where I dominate most of it, man, feels good,” he said.
Jones, who co-owns Apex Jiu-Jitsu Atlanta, pushed the pace throughout the 10-minute match and worked methodically through leg entanglements to secure the catch that swung the judges his way. Andrey landed his own catch and came close to an armbar, but Jones neutralised the threat without panic.
“Yeah, I felt like I was pushing the pace most of the time on the feet. Like he was walking backwards a lot. And then when we got to the ground, I had one really close inside heel where I think I popped his foot a few times. And then another few entanglements where I was catching the ankles. Obviously, that’s why I got my catch eventually. And I felt like a lot of times he was just walking backwards, waiting for big explosive moments. Like he kind of got that one kimura to the armbar that was pretty close, but I felt like I didn’t really panic, which was important coming in as a strategy — not panicking too much. So immediately defended it, cleared the elbow, and then got back straight on the attack,” he said.
Owen Jones calls out Cole Abate
Owen Jones has already mapped out the next move. Andrey had been in line to face Kade Ruotolo before this defeat, and Jones sees that as evidence enough that he deserves a significant next booking. He also has a specific name in mind.
Cole Abate, a same-age peer who rose through the same competitive landscape without the two ever crossing paths, is the target. Jones wants the matchup and is not particularly subtle about his opinion of where Abate stands in the hierarchy.
“I mean yeah, for sure, man. I obviously beat the guy who had the shot at the match, so I definitely think I’ve earned my right to have another match here, for sure,” he said.
“Yeah, for sure, man. That’d be a sick match. Obviously, me and Cole are the same age, we kind of came through the ranks, we never managed to fight, but we were in the same division, and I think it’d be a good clash of styles. Obviously, he’s quite good, so I love to kind of prove that he’s overrated, you know? Go and smash one of the AOJ boys up, for sure.”
