In a performance as extraordinary for its steady dominance as for its moments of flashiness, the 23-year-old Jones became the youngest champion in UFC history Saturday night, thumping light heavyweight belt holder Mauricio "Shogun" Rua with a third-round TKO that electrified a packed Prudential Center.

From the sounds that exploded from the crowd as the fighters made their way to the cage, many fans came to UFC 128 fully anticipating a coronation. They left the building having gotten what they expected to see. And more.

It wasn't simply a 360-degree spinning slam dunk. It was a game-long barrage of 3-pointers at one end of the court and don't-bring-that-weak-stuff-into-the-paint blocked shots at the other end.

It wasn't just an upper deck grand slam. It was a series sweep, every game a shutout.

It wasn't a 101-yard kickoff return. It was a touchdown, all right, but on an all-out blitz that left the quarterback on his back, woozy.

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