UFC president Dana White discusses the disappointing circumstance of former light-heavyweight champ Jon Jones…
Talented and dominant as he was, the story of ex-UFC light-heavyweight champ Jon Jones has become a cautionary tale. Falling from grace too many times to count, ‘Bones’ once again teeters on the brink of a career-ending suspension.
Starting out in the game trying to exude a ‘good Christian’ image, Jones is now looked upon as the complete opposite. Whether that’s fair or not is a different story, one we could perhaps come back to if Jones ever returns to the octagon.
Including DUI’s, hit-and-run, failed drug screens, rehab and more, Jones’ rap sheet reads like that of a hardened convict. Unfortunately, this mayhem outside the octagon has directly impacted his ability to compete.
After his latest failed drug test, Jones was stripped of the title yet again just days after KO’ing Daniel Cormier. If you include the interim title, that’s the third championship Jones has seen confiscated.
Grim Future
Potentially looking at a four-year suspension under the new guidelines, Jones may well have ended his own career. For such a skilled and athletic individual, this would prove an epic waste of talent.
Speaking during an appearance this week on ‘Pardon My Take’ podcast, UFC president Dana White did not sound hopeful. White says he is yet to speak with Jones since his latest USADA bust.
Read White’s comments below…
“Yeah, yeah, I’m mad at Jon Jones. We haven’t talked at all. (I’m) very (disappointed in him),” said White during an appearance on the Pardon My Take podcast. “I think he is the greatest of all time. If he had done everything the way he should have, he’d be a huge superstar. He might even be the heavyweight champion of the world.”
“I think that he’s got to go through USADA and the California State Athletic Commission, but I think he’s gonna be in big trouble.” Quotes by MMA Weekly.
White Believes ‘Bones’ Couldn’t Handle The Pressure
Much like so many young athletes before him, Dana White believes Jones simply folded under pressure. Temptations come thick and fast to a young millionaire sports star, and White thinks they just proved too much:
“Jon Jones came in and just started making millions of dollars immediately and he was like 24 years old. And you can go back to interviews of me saying that’s great, he’s talented enough to win the belt. Can he handle the pressure and all the stuff that goes along with being a world champion? With being famous? With being rich? And that question got answered.”
“He’d also go down in history as probably the greatest ever and if nothing ever happened he’d probably be fighting at heavyweight right now and who knows what could have happened? I’m in a business where when the fame happens and the money. You have to understand the crazy type of money that comes into the fight business instantly.”
