J. Jones (photo) lost UFC belt after controversy. Photo: UFC
the career of Jon Jones It's one of the biggest examples of ups and downs in MMA history. The youngest linear champion in Ultimate history and considered the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in the world controversially lost his title last year, as punishment by the UFC for being involved in a traffic accident.
At the time, Jones crossed a red light and hit a car driven by a pregnant woman. To make matters worse, the fighter fled the scene on foot, without providing assistance to the victim, and marijuana was found in his vehicle.
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In a frank interview with the North American magazine “Rolling Stone”, Jones stated that the accident almost put an end to his career in professional sports. “I wanted to retire, I wanted to give up. I wanted to escape and move to Mexico. I wanted to delete my Twitter, Instagram and Facebook so that no one could see me. I wanted to never give interviews again. I wanted to disappear from celebrity life altogether,” he commented.
According to the fighter himself, the controversial incident did not represent something isolated, but rather was the result of an exhausting routine he lived at the time. “Throughout my career I didn’t live like a champion. The fighters who admired me would go out with me on the weekends and see me passing out because I was so high, just a few weeks before my fights. Then they thought: 'If Jon Jones You can do it, maybe I can too'”, he revealed.
Jones said that one of the occasions he abused the most in training was before facing Alexander Gustafson, in September 2013. The fight in question was one of the most painful of Jones' career, in which he won in a close decision by the judges. “I told my manager at the hospital [right after the fight], 'I should have lost this one. If you look at all my training, I should have lost this fight.' I was being wild. I didn't train at all. I had reached a point in my life where I thought I would never lose a fight,” he acknowledged.
Now reportedly sober, Jones hopes to resume his successful trajectory. On April 23rd, he faces Ovince St Preux for the interim belt in the category. If he wins, it will be a matter of time before he faces Daniel Cormier for the definitive belt. “I'm still on the journey of regaining the title I never lost. After I fight Ovince, my story with Daniel will pick up where he left off. I know what it feels like to be a champion, but being sober doesn't compare. Even without the belt, I'm happier than ever. Being champion and being sober at the same time will be paradise”, he predicted.
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