Jon Jones: “I Feel Like I Appreciate The Sport A Lot More Than Used To”
Jon Jones was an undefeated champ for a very long period of time. His only loss came to Matt “The Hammer” Hammil at The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale on December 5, 2009. He was disqualified after raining 12-6 elbows off the full mount.
But he has really gone through hell during the last few years. Jon Jones was stripped of the title three times. It happened once due to a hit-and-run incident and two times due to prohibited substances. Luckily, his penalty finally expired on October 28, 2018.
“Bones” didn’t take some of his rivals seriously in the past. He even confessed that he didn’t train properly for the title defense match versus Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165.
But in the exclusive interview with Ariel Helwani from ESPN last week, “Bones” promised he won’t repeat mistakes from the past! Jones described who was the man who defeated “The Viking” five years ago. (via bloodyelbow.com)
“The guy that fought Gustafsson the first time was right in the heyday of all his crap, as far as just being a party boy, mainly,” Jones said. “Being on top of the world; not many things have happened to my life at that point.
“So, I was just really on top of the world, just feeling invincible.”
Actually, the former UFC Light Heavyweight king felt very sad since he had to live without something he loves so much. It looks like Jon Jones has learned a lesson.
“Opposed to the guy that you see now, I feel like I’ve been through a lot. I’ve learned a lot. And I just feel like I appreciate the sport a lot more than used to. Having it be taken away from you and losing it, it teaches you how much it means to you. And this sport does mean a lot to me, I was extremely sad without it.”
“Now that I have the opportunity to be back here in the UFC, I feel like I will treat it with so much more respect.”
Jon Jones will fight Alexander Gustafsson at the main event of UFC 232 for the UFC Light Heavyweight title. “Bones” sees this fight as a possibility to remind fans of the good old days.
“I don’t feel like I have anything to prove. I just have something to remind everybody, and that’s who I am in this sport and what I am capable of.”
It is hard to believe Jon Jones won’t make some stupid move in the future. At least Daniel Cormier doesn’t think so. Do you think “Bones” can stay away from trouble?
