Jon Jones discussed with MMA Weekly his upcoming match with Brandon Vera, which will headlines UFC’s March 21 Versus debut:

“It’s definitely really exciting to get a guy like Brandon Vera. He’s a tough fighter and he has a really big following. It’s just going to be great for my career in so many different ways. Ultimately, my goal is to make it towards the top and I’ve wanted to get that fight with Brandon Vera. The belt is my dream, so I know beating him is just part of it.

“I’m just really excited to fight him. I really have a lot of pride in my stand-up. It’s a lot better than you see in the actual Octagon. You’ve seen about maybe 20 percent of the things that I have in my head and things that I’ve been training.

“My last two opponents I fought, Jake O’Brien and Matt Hamill, were both guys who I had to stay aware of their double-leg (takedown) so it didn’t really allow me to unleash the type of striking that I wanted to. Fighting a guy like Brandon Vera, I know he’s not big on the double-leg-takedown, so I will just feel a little more free to flow on my feet and pull the trigger on a lot more things that I’m dying to do.”