He has to close distance to get a clinch. Why risk getting tagged when he can keep the distance and frustrate Rumble into a wild brawl and get him down? As good as Johnson striking is, he is still wild as hell when force to lead. He was sloppy when he started going after Gus in the fight
if somebody is close enough to punch you, you are close enough to clinch, jones is gonna put up against cage with the weight of his body leaning on him, and he's gonna beat'em up on the inside with elbows