Extra Points

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fans are neither excited nor appalled when athletes from other professional sports try their hand at MMA, but Marcus Jones is something to be excited about.

Jones was drafted as a defensive end by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from the University of North Carolina.

He played his entire NFL career with the Buccaneers, but he expressed his love for MMA.

Lucky for Jones, he was chosen as one of the fighters on "The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights."

Jones earned the nickname "Big Baby" on the show because he's sensitive, emotional and excitable.

He is also big - big as in 262 pounds of athleticism and strength.

Many overlooked Jones and thought of him as "Another Brock Lesnar." (Lesnar is a former World Wrestling Entertainment [WWE] fighter who made the switch to MMA after a failed NFL career attempt.)

On last week's episode, the Team Rampage fighter faced off against Team Rashad fighter Mike Wessel.

The fight was short, sweet and thoroughly entertaining. And, of course, Jones proved he can fight.

Coach Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson had doubts about Jones with all the talk of him being emotional and sensitive.

He also had doubts because of his almost complete lack of fighting experience.

Jones proved he is not only a fast learner, but he is a man on a mission.

The mission for last week was to win his match against Wessel in the octagon.

Jones not only won, he dominated the fight. After realizing he could not stand up to Jones' size, Wessel tripped Jones and took him to the floor. Jones looked to be vulnerable, but swung around and almost put Wessel into a chokehold.

Wessel responded by getting on top of Jones to try to 'ground and pound' him, but Jones ended the exchange with quite possibly one of the fastest, and most painful, armbars in MMA history.

The coaches were stunned, UFC President Dana White was shocked and the other fighters realized Big Baby was not to be trifled with.

The real kicker to the fight was that Jones did not act like a WWE jerk, like Lesnar does, but he acted with professionalism.

He applauded Wessel's fighting ability and experience.

This professionalism afterwards was even more shocking because Wessel posted a picture of Jones on a window in the communal house saying he "sucks balls."

Jones said, "Whoever did this, I'm going to rip their arm off" and almost did rip Wessel's arm off to end the fight.

Jones' "over-emotionality" is not what it is cracked up to be. Jones has children, he misses them, and he does not want them to see on TV that Daddy "sucks balls."

He is just like any other father, except for the former NFL player and current MMA fighter thing.

Looking ahead, Jones could easily be one of the finalists on the show due to his quick learning, athleticism and professional conduct.

He also managed to earn himself a new nickname because of the fight, 'The Darkness.'

Marcus 'The Darkness' Jones does have a nice UFC ring to it, especially if the official UFC fight announcer said it.

jpfortmiller@unews.com