Jon Jones: I believe in my heart that I am the best, I believe that I won't lose
Posted on December 5, 2011, 05:33 PM by Trent Reinsmith
Jon Jones has been on a rollercoaster ride since replacing Rashad Evans in the main event at UFC 128. Evans was originally scheduled to face UFC Light Heavyweight champion Mauricio Rua on the card, but was forced to withdraw due to a training camp injury. Jones, a training partner of Evans’ at Jackson’s Gym stepped in and took the fight.
The acceptance of the fight started a rift between Jones and Evans and when Jones captured the UFC Light Heavyweight title from Mauricio Rua at UFC 128 that rift began to grow affecting how Jones was looked at by many MMA fans. Where once he was looked at as an engaging, charming and humble fighter, some began to see him as cocky and overconfident.
On Saturday, December 10, Jones will defend the title he wrested from Rua, facing off against former UFC Light Heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida. In the days leading up to that fight Jones had a message for both his fans and detractors, claiming that while he may have changed as a fighter, he has not changed as a person. "In high school I got the free lunch because we didn't have the finances to go to Wendy's for lunch like the other kids. That I got good at fighting ... that changes nothing about the real world. I have changed as an athlete -- I believe in my heart that I'm the best, I believe I won't lose to Lyoto, or Rashad [Evans], or [Dan] Henderson or any of the other guys. ... As 'Bones' I'm growing and yeah I'm a little cocky and it's important to be that way. But as Jonathan, in the real world, everyone who meets me will say I treated them with the utmost respect." - for more see MMAFighting.com
Further Reading: UFC 140: Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida Extended Video Preview
Photo: UFC fighter Jon Jones before his fight against Vladimir Matyushenko at UFC-Live: Jones vs. Matyushenko at the San Diego Sports Arena on August 1, 2010, in San Diego, California. Francis Specker
Comments
Not a fan of the guy but he's pretty close to unstoppable.
I hope its a good competitive fight and that machida wins, not that i have anything against jones aside from not wanting it to be too easy.
MMA still needs to see the "machida era" where traditional martial arts takes over
Traditional martial arts will never take over. It will become more integrated with MMA as martial artists look to be less predictable. When MMA first started as NHB and Vale Tudo (in the Brazilian Circus of the early to mid 1900's) There were a lot of traditional martial artists but due to their unrealistic training methods they were quickly beaten by wrestlers, boxers, BJJ and Muay Thai fighters. Now that a lot of people have trained in a realistic fashion for some time and MMA has become basically a sport version of JKD encompassing all ways there are some fighters like Anderson Silva, Anthony Petis, Machida, Vitor Belfort and some others that are beginning to incorporate traditional martial arts into their training. I think this will become more wide spread as people see the way it benefits them. It is the next step in the evolution of combat sport.
I hear what you're saying Choke but I think Lyoto and GSP are examples of what Nemesis is talking about. These are guys who are doing exactly what you are saying but that the traditional martial arts approach in term of attitude, respect, devotion etc. It is a life to them not a sport. They live it outside the gym.
Bruce Lee was probably the first mixed martial artist and riled against the "traditional approach" but he meant the need to open up and adopt the strong points of other fighting styles. He still lived the philosopy of the artist.
What i really meant is that more fighters will actually incorporate a real strategy into their gameplan and you'll no longer have guys who say "omg if i land my big right" or try to go shot for shot or just try to hug to win.
In otherwords, there will be more intelligence in the sport because foolish fighters who brawl or have a 1-dimensional gameplan simply won't win, the ART will be put back in mix martial arts and it's no longer the choice sport for joe blow who wants smash and bash.
@ Bruce Lee; I think we are looking at two sides of the same coin. Well said, nice post.
@ Nemesis; I think that has already happened. The days of Tank Abbot are well behind us. There are some stragglers like Lesner and Dan Hardy but they don't do so well when they fight guys that are better at what they do and/or more well rounded and the brawlers like Leban get pretty mixed results.
take his reach out of the equation he isn't. I would love to see him go to heavyweight and fight people his size
He only cuts 15 lbs to make 205... which is less than the majority of fighters cut.
While we are at it, Struve should leave the UFC as he is waaayyy too tall for most heavy weights. He needs to find an organization which has tall freaks like himself.
Same for GSP right?
He appears "unstoppable" because he has a heavyweights frame and is fighting people without ample reach or length to overcome his frame. He wouldn't DARE feel as confident and list competitors like Dos Santos, Cain, Mir, ect. I can't weight till they stop suppressing his weight and he fighting someone his "size." Jones v Dos Santos, prolly 2015 sadly....
ANDERSON IS STILL ALIVE!! but yeah realistically JJ is a fitting UFC champ.
As I just mentioned above you, he only cuts 15 lbs. How is that "suppressing his weight"? You know more than half of the fighters out there cut that much or more than that, right?
Tim Sylvia was 6'8" and did not have John Jones reach....its not a "heavy weights" reach , and there is nothing unfair about his god given body and talent in his weight division.
I used to believe in my heart that Jon Jones was the best....until i took an arrow to the knee
awh no Skyrim has made it to Lowkick too xD
Jones has grown more ****y and arrogant as he goes further into his career. It is one of the reasons I don't care too much for him. But he does have a point; in being a fighter he should be wired to run that way. Another reason is that he keeps beating the snot out of some of my favorite fighters. It all started when I saw him for the first time against Stephan Bonnar. I thought to myself- " I don't think I'm gonna like this guy to much". Don't get me wrong, he is an excellant fighter with a style that wreaks in deception; you expect him to push- and then he pulls. You expect a right hook to the head and end up eating a spinning back elbow instead.
I really like this guy..if lyoto or shogun cant have the belt i would for sure root for him.
Jones is fantastic. I consider it my personal flaw, not his, that I want to see him knocked down a notch. I have Machida on this one.
very well put
machida is the guy with more chances on beating jones... he matches really good against wrestlers. its 55-45 for jones IMO
Lyoto, in his heart, believes the same thing. You gotta prove you're the best! Let's go guys out on a show!
So Jones believes he CANNOT lose. This is not a sentiment just for Machida, it is for everyone. This seems rather risky. Brings forth the question, what happens if/when he loses.....
He would be a complete idiot if he said I think Machida will beat me, or hendo, or Evans etc. Any fighter believes in theirselves and it's very healthy, not ****y. Jones with his talent has every right to say he thinks he can beat the rest, just as i think he can too. It is realisim and confidence, not ****iness.
trust me, i get how you must believe and visualize in order to materialize, but it is always healthy and ultimately wiser to have a small portion that does not put oneself on a pedestal and acknowledges that defeat and death do exist. it's not weakness. it's humility and strength.
damn, reading back on my post, i just schooled you!
Just be like Anderson Silva.
Skills speaks for him. KO's, Submissions...
I hope Machida regains his ERA.
You also said in the UFC 140 Countdown that "Everyone can be beaten" but what goes on to your mind to say that "I believe that I won't lose."
Just what I said in the past. Jones is just an overrated fighter.
WOW your joking right. It amazes how poeple can lie to themselves when they don't like someone. Like all those that on here that picked Mayhem over Bisping when the outcome was so damn obvious. Jones has finished Bader, Rampage and Rua in row and styled on everyone else his rating is justified. As for Jones comments, I gotta be honest I cringe when he drops phrases, one liners, punch lines etc etc. The only time he sounds genuine is when he's talking about how good he thiks he is.
Jones is my favorite fighter. The first time I saw him fight was against Bonnar and I thought he was going to be a stud. It's been really cool to watch him become what he is today. I think he's a good kid and he's just as confident as he needs to be as a MMA fighter. I think it's funny how people hate on him for being "****y" but guys like Rampage are beloved.
Agreed. I love the guy... cool guy, very very talented.. and holds himself well. I noticed how he takes his victories after every win. He's calm and respectful. Long career.. even if loses later on (not to lyoto for sure), he will come back SOO much stronger and better. JJ era!
Well said Matt. Like yourself the first fight I saw with Jones was vs Bonnar and I called my brother right away (who was watching it live as well) and told him then and there he would be champ in 2 years. I wasnt surpirsed to se that I was right.
Try to be good guy still makes a-hole comments
Dan henderson will be a good matchup for this guy..great wrestling credentials and a vicious right to test his chin.
His athleticism is awesome but I dont believe he is the toughest fighter out there and someone like dan henerson or machida will test him and take the title
dan would get creamed by Jones. He wants no part of him at all. but then again there's not many who won't get creamed by Jones.
but jones makes you cream? did i get that right?
If Machida said what 'Bones' said, everyone would be hyped and excited and be all, "Machida is going to destory Jones!" yada yada yada. I don't get it. You got a champ that is humble, but believes in himself. What do you want him to say, that he'll lose? As a fighter you better believe in yourself. Jones isn't 'Bones' outside the cage.
'Bones' will win. I am a fan of both, but come off it haters. Probably the same guys who like Tonka Truck Brock Lesnar want a champ w/ his WWE mentality. That is not MMartialArts.
Lastly, no one has 'Bones' reach, ever, in the history of MMA. So to say, he should change weight classes is ignorant. If he did, and won, then it still wouldn't be enough. Just likes w/ AS, it never is enough.