Mason Jones vs. MarQuel Mederos
UFC Fight Night · August 22, 2026 · Golden 1 Center
Both men have solid chins and most of their recent fights have gone the distance, so a decision is the most likely outcome. Jones's pace tends to drown opponents late, but Mederos has never been outworked over three rounds and counters cleanly. If Jones leans on his grappling he can bank rounds; if he stays in boxing range, Mederos's accuracy edge becomes a real problem. Expect a competitive, high-output fight that reaches the scorecards more often than not.
The Matchup
This is a volume-versus-precision fight. Jones swarms opponents with strikes and chain takedown attempts and has won seven straight, while Mederos is the more accurate puncher (58 percent accuracy to Jones's 43) and is unbeaten in ten. Mederos gives up reach at 69.5 inches to Jones's 74 and has shown almost no takedown offense, so Jones's judo and 3.48 takedowns per 15 minutes could be the swing factor. Mederos's 83 percent takedown defense will be tested in a way it has not been yet in the UFC.
Tale of the Tape
| Mason Jones | MarQuel Mederos | |
|---|---|---|
| 18-2 | Record | 11-1-1 |
| 31 | Age | 29 |
| 5'10" | Height | 5'10" |
| 74" | Reach | 69.5" |
| Orthodox | Stance | Orthodox |
| Wales | Country | United States |
| Pedro Bessa BJJ | Team | MMA Lab |
The Numbers
Career UFC averages. Red bar = statistical edge.
Mason Jones
“The Dragon”
Mason Jones is a Welsh lightweight who made history as a two-division Cage Warriors champion before reaching the UFC. A former national-team judoka with black belts in judo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and kickboxing, he fights at a frantic pace, throwing nearly six significant strikes a minute while mixing in constant takedown attempts. After a rocky first UFC stint, he rebuilt on the regional scene and returned a more polished fighter. He rides a seven-fight winning streak into Sacramento (his record also includes one no contest) and took Fight of the Night honors in his March win over Axel Sola.
- WAxel Sola · Decision (unanimous)UFC Fight Night: Evloev vs. Murphy · March 21, 2026
- WBolaji Oki · KO/TKOUFC Fight Night: Imavov vs. Borralho · September 6, 2025
- WJeremy Stephens · Decision (unanimous)UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Figueiredo · May 3, 2025
MarQuel Mederos
MarQuel Mederos is a Denver-raised lightweight who earned his UFC contract through Dana White's Contender Series and has not lost since his lone pro defeat, running a 10-fight unbeaten streak. He is a clean, technical boxer who lands at a 58 percent clip, one of the better accuracy marks in the division. Six of his eleven wins have come by knockout, and he almost never looks for takedowns, preferring to win exchanges on the feet. His last outing was a hard-fought majority draw with Chris Padilla, the man fighting one bout after him on this same card.
- DChris Padilla · Draw (majority)UFC 327 · April 11, 2026
- WMark Choinski · Decision (unanimous)UFC 316 · June 7, 2025
- WAustin Hubbard · Decision (split)UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Erceg · March 29, 2025