Rashad Evans: I hope Jon Jones can move forward from his arrest
Posted on May 30, 2012, 12:33 PM by Mike Drahota
Appearing on “UFC Tonight,” Rashad Evans had some comments on his rival Jon Jones's recent arrest for DWI and subsequent plea bargain. The comments made by Evans are not in the nature one would think. Evans stated he was not surprised by the May 19th incident:
“Honestly, it is hard to really say if it surprised me. I hate to see that happen to someone. Thankfully, no one got hurt and hopefully he can move forward from it.” via Bloodyelbow.com
Evans could have taken the time to trash his rival, but instead he showed gratitude for the lack of serious injury surrounding the crash. He even went as far as to wish his old training partner and foe the ability to move on from the incident. Evans could have taken this opportunity and ran with it, lambasting his seemingly hated former friend in the face of a very controversial arrest. But he did not. Evans has showed a great amount of maturity and grace in addressing the subject, and appears to have let go of the hate he harnessed to fuel and hype his UFC 145 title bout with Jones. Evans moves on with hope for the best, knowing that it may not have shocked him like it did many others further from the subject.
Jones came out with a statement acknowledging his mistake but also criticizing all of the “fickle” MMA fans who were deriding him for his arrest. Dana White also expressed much disappointment at the issue, and stated that Jones had a lot to learn as the champion. However he will stand by the young fighter's side, with no further punishment by the UFC deemed necessary.
The whole incident has made many look at the Light Heavyweight champion in a new light. Is he a young man who simply made a mistake, or is someone who let fame get to his head and now focuses blame on the fans who criticize him? The way that Jon Jones handles the next year with the media, fans, and the UFC will have a great deal on where his career heads, and ultimately, his legacy.
Further Reading: Jon Jones enters guilty plea for DWI charge
Comments
Was Rashad correct about him all along............??????!!!!!!!!
Rashad was right saying " One day you will fall..." but he thought Jones would fall inside the octagon, not on the road.
This whole thing is a blessing in disguise for Jones. Hopefully he can become the mature guy he thought he was. Peace Jones.
What Rashad said basically sums up wht should happen here.
I say he should do his meetings, pay his fine and be very apologetic.
Everyone makes mistakes and I know none of you have ever speeded to get somewhere, which luckily never caused an crash, since we're all angels but hopefully he'll learn from this and be able to evaluate how he's dealing with the fame etc.
War Bones
This whole thing is a joke. Jones made a mistake, and now made his apologies. Now he will go back to doing what he does best, dominating the UFC LHW division.
if he'd killed someone would it still be a joke? just wondering, or do we have to wait for someone to actually die or become paralysed before we take it seriously?
if nothing was made of this, then he would have most likely done it again, and in a few months time we might have been looking at Jones going to prison for manslaughter....im pretty sure at that point the only 'dominating' going on would be in the showers, and would probably involve some big tatooed guys...
You don't have to be famous to mess up, believe me when I say it can happen to anyone. But being famous is going to amplify your mistakes a hundred fold in the public's easily offended eye. All Bones can do is move on from there and learn from it, just like everyone else that phucks up in this life.
Didnt the woman miscarriage that Rampage smashed into in his truck test run.
Nice to see Rashad not kicking a rival when he's down.
Rashad Evans was very classy indeed. However, I am still very disappointed by the way Jon Jones took the criticism from fans and the media. I mean, yeah he's young and he made a mistake. But if you practice what you preach, you wouldn't label your fans as "fickle" MMA fans and just accept your mistake and move on.
I am actually starting to believe what Rashad has been saying all along.
However as a fighter, I am still a Jon Jones fan.
Wont ever forget that picture of himself holding the "sold" sign in front of his "Bent...ly" Hes a tool.
I want to see Rashad vs Rampage rematch