Marcus Jones (athlete) facts for kids

Marcus Edward Jones (born August 15, 1973) is an American who used to be a professional football player and later a mixed martial artist. He played as a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons. He also played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels. In 1995, he was named an All-American, which means he was one of the best college players in the country.

Marcus was chosen in the first round of the 1996 NFL draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After his football career, he became a mixed martial arts fighter. He was even a cast member on the TV show The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights on SpikeTV.

Early Life and College Football

Marcus Jones was born in Jacksonville, North Carolina. He went to Southwest Onslow High School, where he played high school football. After high school, Marcus received a special athletic scholarship to attend the University of North Carolina.

He played for the North Carolina Tar Heels football team from 1992 to 1995. During his time there, he set a record for the most sacks in the Tar Heels' history. A sack happens when a defensive player tackles the opposing team's quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. In 1995, he was recognized as a top All-American player.

Professional Football Career

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers picked Marcus Jones in the first round of the 1996 NFL draft. He was the 22nd player chosen overall. He played for the Buccaneers from 1996 to 2002.

During his time with the Buccaneers, Marcus played in 85 games and started 39 of them. He recorded 24 sacks, showing his skill as a defensive player. In October 2002, he left the Buccaneers. He then signed with the Buffalo Bills, but a knee injury kept him from playing. He was later released by the Bills.

Mixed Martial Arts Career

After his football career, Marcus Jones started training in mixed martial arts (MMA). He trained under Rob Kahn at Gracie Tampa in Tampa, Florida.

He had his first professional MMA fight on October 26, 2007. He won that fight against Will Mora. In his next fight, he defeated Eduardo Boza by technical knockout (TKO) in the first round. A TKO means the referee stops the fight because one fighter can no longer defend themselves. Marcus later lost his first fight to Daniel Perez. However, he won two more fights in a row after that loss.

Competing on The Ultimate Fighter

Marcus Jones was chosen to be a contestant on the tenth season of The Ultimate Fighter. This TV show features MMA fighters competing against each other. Filming began in June 2009, and the show started airing in September 2009.

During the show's training, Marcus had some challenges, like getting tired easily. This might have been why he was one of the last fighters picked for Team Rampage. While on the show, Marcus also dealt with a knee injury and a lot of sweating, which made people wonder if he could continue.

After he recovered, Marcus had his first fight against Mike Wessel from Team Rashad. Marcus won by an armbar submission in the first round. An armbar is a move where a fighter locks an opponent's arm to force them to give up. This win made him the only fighter from Team Rampage to move past the first round. In the next round, the quarterfinals, Marcus knocked out Darrill Schoonover, giving Darrill his first MMA loss. Marcus was eventually defeated in the semifinals by Brendan Schaub, who won by knockout (KO) in the first round.

Fighting in the Ultimate Fighting Championships

For his official debut in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Marcus Jones fought Matt Mitrione at The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights Finale. Marcus lost this fight by knockout in the second round. After this match, he decided to retire from MMA to spend more time with his family.

Mixed Martial Arts Record

Mixed Martial Arts Exhibition Record