It’s been two weeks since Jon Jones returned to his throne atop the MMA world.
The dwelling legend simply disposed of Ciryl Gane in dominant vogue, with a first-round submission to say the UFC Heavyweight championship belt on March 4.
The best fighter of all time is again, however how lengthy will he stick round this time? Fairly, how lengthy will he enable himself to stay the G.O.A.T. of the Octagon that his trustworthy followers deserve?
Jon Jones: Arduous to Love
Jon Jones makes it laborious to like Jon Jones.
“Bones” is undoubtedly nice and equally despicable. Each time he fools people into believing he has rediscovered himself and straightened out issues in his life so he could be the unstoppable drive everybody is aware of he could be, he finds a approach to derail himself, additional marring his twisted legacy.
Time and time once more Jones has confirmed to be the star of the present within the cage, however he can not keep away from falling sufferer to the freakshow that’s his private life exterior of the cage.
He’s again on prime now, however how lengthy till Jon Jones pulls, properly, a Jon Jones?
Jones’ Ugly Facet
Like that point in 2012, when he crashed his Bentley right into a utility pole in Binghamton, N.Y.,—injuring two feminine passengers—and was taken into custody for refusing a sobriety take a look at. (He later plead responsible to a DUI and had his license revoked for six months.)
Or that point Jones was accused of writing homophobic slurs to a Swedish fan on Instagram weeks after besting Alexander Gustafsson. Jones claimed his telephone was stolen and his account was hacked, however he has at all times been liar.
Just like the time he lied to Fox Sports activities two weeks after he examined optimistic for cocaine previous to his win towards Daniel Cormier in January 2015. Jones, who spent one evening in rehab, was quoted denying that he was an addict “or perhaps a frequent person.” He has since bragged in regards to the quantity of cocaine he did main as much as the battle, prefer it’s a badge of honor or one other accolade for his resume.
This was all earlier than Jones was concerned in a hit-and-run that injured a pregnant girl. And earlier than he was flagged by the US Anti-Doping Company in 2016 for what would finally earn him a one-year ban.
Jones and Stardom
The one factor extra spectacular than his document within the Octagon is how he has managed to keep away from any severe repercussions for his intensive document exterior of the cage.
Jones is like an undoubtedly gifted baby who retains getting bolstered for unhealthy conduct. Too proficient for his personal good and spoiled rotten from the time he turned the youngest UFC champion at age 23.
Not everybody’s lower out for superstardom, and Jones has confirmed his ego is just too nice for his personal greatness.
Deep down inside, Jones might be a genuinely good individual, just like the man he pretends to be at press conferences, a smart veteran who has discovered from the troubles which have haunted him since knocking out Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. However his demons are too highly effective to maintain from resurfacing, too grand to maintain from bursting to the floor the place TMZ lurks.
Struggle followers need nothing greater than for the G.O.A.T. to remain on his present path, profitable fights and quoting the Bible like a brand new, improved and rediscovered Jones. However one can not fault those self same followers for not shopping for into the façade. Why would they? Each time these trustworthy followers have totally purchased again into “Bones,” they’ve been let down, like Charlie Brown each time he traces up for an additional crack on the soccer Lucy’s teed up.
That’s not to say battle followers need to be haters of Jones or hoping for his downfall, however additionally they don’t have to be cussed sufficient to assume this time might be completely different.
Jones mentioned all the fitting issues main as much as the Gane bout, however the glimmers of previous Jones are already coming to mild.
It doesn’t take a lot for Jones to flip that swap, like that point he and Cormier have been being interviewed by ESPN. Jones performed the skilled for the lots, solely to right away swap to “Evil Jon” as quickly as he thought the digital camera was not rolling.
Even on Twitter, he’s again to his troll methods. After showing to try to fix his variations with Cormier by saying he was OK with DC commentating his title bout, Jones took a shot at DC’s quick response to the submission towards Gane. DC didn’t have the fitting angle to see the choke, however Jones claimed Cormier “couldn’t even fake to smile” for him, questioning how a former champion and present analyst couldn’t determine a guillotine.
My man couldn’t even fake to smile, it was fairly humorous. Asking what occurred, an expertise former champion and analyst abruptly not having the ability to determine a guillotine. 😌 https://t.co/dgqcqdCO34
— BONY (@JonnyBones) March 9, 2023
When requested about Francis Ngannou, Jones merely known as Ngannou a “p***y” who was afraid to battle. Basic Jones.
Struggle followers need to imagine in Jones so unhealthy that they stick round on this unhealthy relationship of types. Positive, it’s a love like no different—Jones a once-in-a-generation fighter—however it’s too poisonous to tolerate.
It’s time for that definitive breakup. One could be completely happy to see Jones succeed, wishing him the perfect from afar, understanding that he’s the one who ruined one thing that might have actually been nice.
However the clock retains ticking.
How lengthy will Jones stick round this time?