“I kind of like being in the ring” – Owen Jones reflects on the unexpected advantages of competing inside the ropes against Fabricio Andrey

British submission grappling wizard Owen Jones had never competed inside a ring before last week. But he loved every minute of it during his victorious debut at ONE Fight Night 44.

The 21-year-old Englishman made an immediate statement in his promotional bow inside Bangkok’s legendary Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, June 26, handing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion Fabricio ‘Hokage’ Andrey his first ONE Championship defeat via split decision in the night’s sole submission grappling clash.

The triumph pushed Jones’ career record to 17-6, ended Andrey’s three-bout winning streak inside the promotion, and avenged the loss the Apex Jiu-Jitsu Atlanta athlete had suffered to the Brazilian three years prior.

All submission grappling contests outside the promotion unfold on traditional mats or a cage. Owen Jones, however, quickly realized the ring offered an unexpected advantage that played directly into his style.

Speaking to ONE Championship after his triumph, the young Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt opened up on what surprised him most about being in the ring.

“Yeah, man, [it] felt good [to fight in a ring]. Honestly, the ring’s like very grippy, like the floor. A lot of times with jiu-jitsu matches, the issue is that it gets quite sweaty and slippery,” Owen Jones shared.

“Like he’s trying to kick my leg and trying to foot sweep me, and my foot’s just not moving. It’s just like planted on the floor. So I think I kind of like being in the ring, for sure.”

Owen Jones hits back at Fabricio Andrey following claims that he stalled their fight

Owen Jones scored a catch on his way to a unanimous decision win at ONE Fight Night 44. But his fallen foe, Fabricio Andrey, wasn’t one bit pleased with how the fight played out.

The Brazilian believed that the Englishman attempted to stall the fight while the two were hunting for a dominant position on the canvas.

Posting on his official Instagram account (@owenjonesbjj), the debuting Brit attached a clip from the fight where Andrey latched on to his hand without going for a follow-up move.

In the caption, he wrote:

“Guy tried 3 moves in 10 minutes and complains about stalling lol.”

With genuine bad blood between the pair of BJJ black belts, a trilogy on submission grappling’s grandest stage could perhaps be in the offing.