Jon Jones: I think the UFC has learned a lesson
Posted on September 6, 2012, 12:29 PM by Mike Searson
UFC Light Heavyweight champion Jon "Bones" Jones has taken a lot of grief over the cancellation of UFC 151. However, if "Bones" had the chance to do it all over again again, he maintains that he would still turn down UFC President Dana White's offer of a replacement fight on eight days' notice.
Jones did not mince words in his latest interview with the Associated Press on the topic of the UFC cancelling the event in Las Vegas last week. He places the blame at the feet of White, himself: “I had to do what’s right for myself by turning down that fight, Dana had to do what was right for himself by putting the blame on everyone else except for himself. The lesson to be learned is, at the end of the day, you have to protect yourself and your family.”
"Bones" won the UFC Light Heavyweight title in March 2011 when he defeated Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and has emerged as one of the UFC's biggest pay-per-view stars: "I’ve been dealing with a lot of controversy. A lot of insults right now. People tell me, ‘You’re the champ, you’ve got to take the fight,’ Being the champ wasn’t given to me."
White and Jones have yet to talk since last week's press conference when the card was cancelled. Jones says that this has been a learning experience for him and points to the weakness of the remainder of the card as to the real reason why it was cancelled: "I think in the future, this can make me and Dana even better off. For him to get out how he felt about me in that situation, it will help me look at things more business-oriented. A lot of good can come out of it. Fighters can learn the lesson of doing what’s best for themselves and not feeling like puppets. I think the UFC has learned a lesson of making sure they stay loyal to the fans and give them full cards.”
In the end, he takes no responsibility for the events which have transpired: "I don't owe anybody anything."
Comments
Glad to hear that Jones is defending himself and not being used as a sacrificial lamb for the UFC's failure to put on a supporting main card. Dana White uses scapegoats for every mistake he makes and Jones along with some of the smarter fans realize that.
Well said, moots. Unfortunately for the UFC and its fans, Dana "Mr My way or the highway" White will continue to blame everyone else but himself for his own mistakes. It's great to see Jon Jones taking a stand what he believes in.
White is just doing his job. Funny how no-one here has a clue about how a business is run, especially a successful business. Remember who saved the UFC, along with the Fertittas. How easily we forget.
Hitler brought jobs too, doesnt mean we should owe him our allegiance.
CR54.. I sure hope you're not a business man. If you think it is the best way to run a business by having no backup plan, no contingency other than blaming the people below you, then you sir do not understand business at all. They should have had at least 3 fights to choose from as a replacement. Beyond that, how come nobody is blaming the person that is actually at fault. Dan henderson. you don't sit on a injury for 2 weeks prior to the fight only to pull out 8 days beforehand. That is GARBAGE.
David behind the scenes ;-)
At the end of the day its always danas game
I agree but in all management positions I have every worked, you take credit for the good and you make sure you take responsibility for the bad. Don't pass this on Jones, Tell the fans I ****ed up, I didn't make a card that could sell on PPV without the main event.
Burger King management doesn't count, this is real business.
Goes to show you, Dana plays it off not even worthy of a Burger King managers spot. By the way, Burger king generates about 7 times the amount of money the UFC does. I am sure it was a joke, but if anything the UFC is a joke company next to companies like Burger king and McDonalds. So... let's talk REAL business shall we>?
....and it should be.
Wrong.
The only thing Jones proves here is that "success breeds arrogant, narcisisstic pr*cks", like Jon Jones, who thinks he is above everyone else and can do any damn thing he pleases, like get a Nike endorsement "just because Nike means success".
Nike has zero to do with MMA to date and that just proves what Jones is all about, HIMSELF, and not in a good way.
If he had a single ball left in his sack he would have done anything and everything the UFC asked, just like young, hungry fighters do.
Umm... Jon Jones isn't really all that intelligent. If you listen to him speak, he makes a lot of poor choices gramatically.
Read his tweets and you'll see it even more. He can't spell all that great and he doesn't have a firm concept on the meaning of certain words and their use.
Psychologically and intellectually he comes off as a kid to me, always has and I'm sure he always will. He's impulsive, tempermental and just as selfish as he is selfless.
I respect his insane talent and will always watch him compete, but I don't like his demeanor or his personality at all, and the majority of others feel the same.
While I won't pin the blame of an entire event on him. I will call him a pussy for refusing to fight a smaller, out of shape fighter, for more money on short notice. Especially given the fact that he was in prime physical condition and is considered to be one of the very best in the world.
All the champions and very best fighters in the history of this sport have never turned down an opponent, why? Pride, Honour, Respect, Confidence, Belief, Courage. I'm sure Jon isn't afraid of any man, but he is clearly afraid of losing his status, his perfect record and his money, and THAT is not why the best fighters in the world do what they do.
He's hypocritical, he's contradictoy, he's immature and he's nothing like the fighters I grew up watching and loving. The guys who would fight anyone at anytime even if they were undefeated, and if they lost? They'd come back better and just keep winning.
For his own sake, as a wake up call... I hope he loses. Maybe then he'll feel vulnerable and people may begin to like him again. Because early in his career when he kept his mouth shut and fought his ass of, I definitely did.
there is plenty of blame to go around. but the fact that he turned down a fight is a punks way out. jones is right for saying "being the champ wasn't given to me." however he could have given someone a shot and saved the day. yes dana is an ass quite a bit of the time with his behavior and cold demeanor, but jones could have shown what a true champion does by not ducking a challenge. he's not a champ he's a chump!
business wise Chael would have made huge ppv compared to the fight he is going to do now and fighting a guy that possibly could of had a month of training tops,..no way close to peak condition plus was moving UP in weight,.. and by Jones account a guy who fights like a kid .. has no skills,.
and shouldnt have his ranking his mouth got it for him...so for a guy training for one of the best fighters in the world should of been able to finish him by 2nd round... sorry full training great peak time,,, but short notice...if you are the best as long as your in shape and mentally there
fighting should be a problem for the champ.....I dont think Jones is scared
of Chael but his coaches are.......and for guy code you talk chit and call another GUY [fighter] out it gets set up you fight!!! no questions about it if your in insane shape and ready to already go....!!??? you dont go my girl,..mommy or coach say no soooo.!! we use to call that bicthn out... you know if Jones wouldnt of called him out and said what was said..Dana wouldnt of been so pissed still mad but im sure he was like hell yeah
Jones was just talking chit Chael is stepping up will be a beef fight..
and then he says no ...im sure he just thought he is a PRO FIGHTER and called out another he assumed would back it up being champ and all...
That shit was long but on point
who gives a rats arse bout spelling an shit like that bud hel flick a a left finger at you an youl probably curl like a girl lil bitch
You just described Dana from his lowly beginnings to what he is now. Jones did only the same as all these other rich guys in that success brought some power. Dana is far worse for being a power hungry rich dude than Jones. Dana exploits his power over other people far more. If Jones gets some power to do what he wants within the rules and legitimately then he deserves it.
What do you think fighters wear while training, warming up and normal day to day stuff? You think every UFC has a closet full of UFC apparel and NOTHING else? Lol. I am sure Nike plays a much larger part in athletes training than you think. Certainly a lot more than "Zero to do with MMA" They have more to do with MMA than anybody sitting on a website that isn't even on the companies radar talking about how business is to be run and not understanding where a company like the UFC makes all of it's money. From companies and sponsors like Nike, bud Light, and long down on the ladder is from people like us.
i never thought it was jones fault for cancelation....he turned down fight with chael the guy who got finsihed last month......all the blame is on ufc for not having a REAL co main event
More BS.
Jones could have kicked Sonnen's A$$ all over the cage and sold tons of PPV tickets in the process. It was a huge payday for the UFC waiting to happen. Get a frigging clue.
If I was Jones I wouldnt allow it all to hang on me either to have some freakshow take away from the legitimacy of the belt. Go watch WWE where all your dreams will come true.
He sounds a lot like Tito used to. I wonder if we'll see Dana and Jones going at it the way Tito and Dana did back in the day.
Jones is getting raped from all directions, the fans, media, Rashad and even Dana.
Just goes to show how much fans get pissed at fighters pulling out of shows.
every1 who clicks poor isa straight up jealous hater any1 who dislikes jones isa a jealous hater
and you sir are a straight up illiterate moron
Who's the more foolish: the fool, or the fool who follows him?
@darejz00: Ans: The fool who leaves foolish questions about who the biggest fool really is.
if u think the best light heavyweight in the world is a fool ur fuc*kin stupid ahaha
obi wan disagrees
Leave the guy alone :)
ok hunter b im not ashamed to be a fan of jones cause i got no reason not to like him these internet haters sound like the morons
and the internet nut hugers sound like homos having gay fantasys.
I am so sick of hearing Jon Jones justify his actions and diverting any responsibility away from himself. Sure, it wasn't all his fault, but man, listen to your PR guys and appeal to the fans somewhat. Regardless of what Jones thinks, you do owe someone something. That someone is the fans, because without them fighting would be completely irrelevant. So show some respect.
You must be pretty sick of Dana then?
Yeah, I'm sick of his redirection too, he tried to put on a million cards in one summer and it obviously backfired. There's a million excuses, and fall guys, but the bottm line is, they couldn't cover their own asses. I just don't want mma to become boxing, with one headliner and an irrelevant undercard like Holober pointed out.
He sure is a lot more outspoken now, then when he crashed his car with two drunk bitches in it.
Jones appeals to many fans because he is an awesome fighter, personality irrelevant. Without fighters like Jones there wouldn't be any fans so maybe you show him some respect too huh?
Depends on what you see as your goal. I couldn't care less if fans didn't like my decisions. What if I didn't like my fans decisions? If it was outside of the rules or something then he deserves the backlash but if its within his rights then shut your mouth and hate the game you watch. Jones would have been a freakshow against Chael and some have no interest in that. Others have fantasy matchups and if they dont get them when available the go ballistic. I want Jones destroyed by Machida or Shogun but at this stage I want nothing of seeing a chance for Chael get an illegitimate shot. makes the belt worth as much as a ''Support the UFC'' bracelet.
I completely agree re: J Jones - he talks business, yet without the fans their would be no business and thus, no Bentley's to crash into poles. He really needs to just keep quiet about this now if he values his "brand" - just when you think his ego couldn't grow anymore, you see condescending and ridiculous comments such as, "I think the UFC has learned a lesson here...". Ha, ha, what a bad joke! The UFC learned a lesson alright, and I'm sure there will be a price for Jones to pay for this at some point. This all sounds reminiscent of how Rashad Evans was talking when he decided to wait for Shogun's recovery from knee surgery - I bet if he could redo that, he would. The common denominator in these scenarios is Greg Jackson...he is a great strategist but a bad fight manager
waiting for hate to respond to this telling us about the evils of the white women
Shut up Jon Jones... no one cares anymore you Diva
Shut up Hunter, no one cares for purile immaturity.
a few days ago, jones was criticized by (almost) everybody... its interesting to see how it turns all over now. maybe due to this ufc 151 incident, jones even getting more liked and earn some fans!
the mood of many fans seems to change every day. their opinions based on the most popular ones.
greg jacksons book on mma chapter 42(public relations)(page 366) go get some fans jones
The only criticism I have of Jones is the fact he got drunk and wrapped his car into a tree after stating he is not the kind of guy to do crazy shit like that. other than that he carries himself well and fights on another level to 99% of fighters. All the other crap thrown is way reminds me of Princess Diana's funeral. Mass outpouring of sentiment which seemed the popular mindset but ultimately the majority couldn't care less about it but on the day itself millions acted like her own mother or son.
I think Jon lacks confidence. He has problems making decisions on his own, he's not consistent with anything he says and goes on to say he doesn't owe anybody anything yet he has 50 different explanations as to why 151 didn't happen. Its like hes throwing 50 different things at the wall and seeing which one sticks the most, then the one that stuck ( with positive feedback) is the one that he'll go with.
Try reading what he actually said. Seemed to make sense to me.
Try reading more than just this article on some of the things Jon said and I would make a lot more sense than he does. He went from referring to himself as sort of Jesus by carrying the cross for what happened to 151 to I don't owe anybody anything, then it was Dan Hendersons fault because he should have said something and now he's teaching Dana a lesson? You don't teach Dana anything just ask Tito, Tim Sylvia, Paul Daley, Fedor, and Dan. You come to the UFC and Fight for Dana or you fight for potato chips. Jon wants to cry about PPV numbers and rematches but if daddy Dana wants to he'll put him for free on facebook.
Say what you will about Jones. But this:
"I think in the future, this can make me and Dana even better off. For him to get out how he felt about me in that situation, it will help me look at things more business-oriented. A lot of good can come out of it. Fighters can learn the lesson of doing what’s best for themselves and not feeling like puppets. I think the UFC has learned a lesson of making sure they stay loyal to the fans and give them full cards.”
Is exactly how the sport should be evolving. Fighters realizing they have to do what's best for themselves as their earning power could possibly have such a short window, and the UFC making sure it doesn't turn into boxing with such shallow cards.
I cooled you too Evan lol
Unfortunately the only fighters IMO that have the power to stick up for themselves are the ones with a UFC strap around their waist. Every other fighter who dares stand up to white will still be treated like shat and be fitched.
Very ture. That's why if fighters had the balls as a whole they would have gone the union route years ago.
Lindland I believe said it best when this scenario was presented: (I'm paraphrasing) "On the whole, fighers are cowards. They'll take the short term check now, instead of holding out for the long term gains down the road."
The problem for Zufa now though is that there are certain fighters "above them" in a metaphorical sense. If GSP, Jones, and Anderson got on board with a fighters union (which is most likely a 100% impossibility, especially after the backlash Jones got from other athletes recently) there wouldn't be much the UFC could do about it.
Agreed with you both. Unfortunately for the fighters, that's just the way it is.
lol
that cool was me Evan lol.
Ditto buddy
Get a room together you two
Don't be jealouos
Not only did Chael not deserve a title shot but he didnt have any chance what so ever of beating Jones. Im glad you turned down that fight Jon, And it always makes me laugh at how much hate you got for it when Machida and Shogun both turned down a title shot with 4x the notice and its like they all get high fives for it.
Oh and Machida and Shogun are both great fighters and I also have no issues with them turning down the fight. Theres a reason guys want time to prepare for specific fighters these days and not just be in fighting shape.
No, no. It's the "KFC" Double Shot, not the "HK" Double Shot. Jeez.
Both Jones and the UFC are to blame IMO and here's why..... I agree that the cancelation was the UFC's fault, but it was up to Jones to save the day and be a "company man" and cement his "greatness" by taking (although an easier fight) a fight on short notice in which he would have received much praise for and probably a much larger pay day. Jones is right but being right isn't always right. P.S.... Hendo should have made Dana aware of his injury and the potential of a "pull out".
I believe that the Frittata brothers are starting to think twice about DW as president or more pointedly spokesperson for the UFC. I would not be surprised if this UFC 151 fiasco caused a major shake up at the headquarters; watch for it in mid 2013.
Nonsense... !! Dana aint going NOWHERE!
The sport wouldnt be where it is today without him
and it needs him to further grow to its fullest potential.
Some of his methods may be controversial but that is
what makes Dana, Dana and Dana has been doing
PRETTY DAMN GOOD!! There's no one in the sport
fighting as hard for the sport's growth as Dana White.
Don't get it twisted... that he's a ****head is totally irrelevant!
Watch for it my illiterate noobs :)
btw CAPS don't make you argument better just bitchier.
Dana replaced? ****.
Fighting hard for UFC growth and destroying MMA anywhere else it can manage. Must be warm down in Dana's pants.
I don't know in what prehistoric rock you been living under.. but i sure hope they're not all as uneducated as you where you come from.. Say Hi to Fred Flintstone for me Wilma..
Jones is right from now on let him pick who he fights maybe tito next he use to be a champ and is irrelevant..
Jones is already the greatest MMA fighter in history......at the age of 25.
Where were 4 of the greatest all time p4p at the age of 25?
Fedor was 10-1, having just beat the immortal Chris Haseman. He was about have his first fight in Pride.
The "Prodigy" had just won his first UFC belt, but then took off to Japan. It would be 4 more years before BJ would wear UFC gold again.
GSP was 13-1, and had also just won his first UFC belt, but was about to fight Matt Serra.
And the Spider? 5-1, having just competed in "Shoto: To the Top 2". Which was still better than "To The Top 1", which totally sucked.
Actually, I made that up. But still, you get my point. Not exactly about to defend one of the hardest belts to hold in MMA, for the 4th time.
About two years ago I posted that Jones was special because so far, his talent had no ceiling. Two years later, this is just as true.
Does it mean he'll he the greatest ever? No, that train can leave the tracks in a hurry. Just ask GSP.
But if he does keep it up, he'll catch up to where Silva is now, at the age of 37, by the time he's 28 or 29. Hate him all the way, it won't make a difference one way or another.
Good points. However, you alluded to GSP's path to being classified as the greatest ever being closed. If he beats Condit then beats Anderson at 180 (or whatever) he's at the very least in the argument with Anderson and Fedor.
Since he'll never beat Silva.. that argument will never be made. :-)
I'm a huge GSP fan, and i didn't mean to imply that his story is done, he could still overtake Silva, be the best ever.
But that didn't really start until after he lost to Serra and started his current win streak = still behind JJ at the age of 25.
Ah, gotcha.
Agreed.
GSP said he had lost his passion for the sport but found the drive again. I'm interested in if we're going to see the GSP of old that goes for the finish or GSP the strategist that doesn't take any risk even when his opponent has a broken face or is knocked down. I think he could have finished both shields and kos pretty easily but didn't want to make the serra mistake. I think either way he should beat condit and I really liked the GSP that finished fights, but as much as I hate to say it, I think its going to take the GSP that doesn't take the risk to have a chance against Silva. After all it was one untimely and unnecessary spinning back fist that ended Chaels dreams of holding middle weight gold. You can't a mistake with Silva. The guy just knows how to capitalize.
Doh, first line was supposed to read "....for the age of 25".
Minor detail that defines to weak or to sharp :)
Nope still think hes a great fighter dont hate him character wise hes a complete douchebag he has more quality wins than most but his logic is equivilant to more of a politician then a fighter hes playing the safe game,Jackson thinks for him to protect his record.Alot of fighters have losses from fighting more than once in a night oh how things have changed and hes the tip of the iceberg as far as evolved fighters go.Still doesnt excuse his poor behavior and excusefull additude.The word strategy comes to play and I don't believe the fighters should be able to pick and choose there fights it cushions there record because fighters of the past did not have this luxury.Maybe hell be the greatest,hmmm I guess nobody will ever know if he picks who he fights and when...I believe even if he retired now hes a hall of famer but giving him an advantage like this leaves any true NHB/MMA fan feelng ripped off and unsatisfied and leaves the question where did we go wrong?
Some people are so weak, they turn to support anyone who stands up for themselves, right or wrong. Thats an admirable trait for those who dont have it.
I still think Jones is a douchebag and as I said before, Im not paying for his events. I usually buy all of them.
Wait until Dana gets finished with this guy. You dont attack the guy who held your hand as you rose to fame.(even if hes unhappy)
you are forever talking shet
Yea, wait until Dana gets finished with him. He'll be headlining multiple events a year making a great percentatge off of each show. That'll teach em.
Jones vs. JDS?
Dana will make things difficult for him in some way. Do you think Dana will let what he's saying truly slide? I think not.
But hey, glad you brought your crystal ball and know exactly how many fights he'll have coming up. Also good see you're bouncing off the wall with your Boner love.
Yes, he will. Dana is a promoter of a business, and Jones is a cash cow. If he were to shelve him, or put him in terrible fights for no reason it would be completely going against how is mind operates (which is profit first). I'm guessing your crystal ball missed that one though. It let me use the logic of Jones being the most active champion over the past two years to my advantage.
My boner love? No its just my love of picking apart the lovely thoughts you bring to every single Jones post.
We all know what a nasty businessman DW is but so far in this UFC debacle it is the younger Jones who has spoken with more thought and DW who is shooting from the hip without realising there's no bullets in his gun and has come across as childish and ignorant and as someone who will go to extraordinary lengths to shift blame onto anyone or anything other than himself.
What is a "Boner love"??
Its when guys like Evan bounce up and down on Jone's c0ck.
Maybe like when young bitches act like they hate you over trivial issues when secretly they want your boner.
We got it, dude, you don't like neither Jones nor Silva. By the way, don't you do the same thing for Chael?
Picking apart? lmao yea, ok. Mr. google fact checker.
Its funny that guys like you can see Jones do no wrong, that being said Evan, you'll argue 10 pages and I wont get you started again.
Most everything here is opinions, you're no different, no matter how you propose to analyze it through your own moral experiences.
Jones do no wrong? Again, you're out of your league. I picked apart what he said about "war in the cage" and how he reacts to fans 7 or 8 posts ago. It's a bit surprising you didn't see it since you post 9 or 10 times on every Jones thread (then usually say something about how you're done talking about him at the end).
Google fact checker? Does reality not suit your opinion. That's sad. Although it makes sense.
You say I will argue a point so much, but you are the one with close to 100 comments daily on this site lately that mostly consist of how terrible Jones is and how anybody who doesn't agree with you is an idiot.
Its pretty easy to picture you smashing the keyboard while typing with tears in your eyes.
dam i wish jones would shut up already hes so annoying
Funny how one thread turns the tide and the nut suckers brush their teeth ahead of time.
2 days ago 90 percent bashed him, day later oh boy , redeemed lol.
His fans say if you dont like him, you' a hater or a racist. How about judging someone overall, by how they act whats they do, and how hypocritical they can be. This is the very last reply about Jones, I dont give two shiits about him or Jerkoff Jackson.
Dana was right about one thing for certain. Jackson is a fking sport killer.
ur wackd
Lesson learned,we learned that you are fake,****y(we already knew that) but hey,l for one hope you learn your lesson by the fist of Belfort by falling like a "piece of meat" and having some fresh baked canvas for dinner Jonny!!!
Glad to see Im not the only one with a spine Papi, I know Hunter speaks his mind and never looks at the butt hurt tabs off to the side. I dont either
i think it's a hard one to call 'who' is resposible for the cancellation of 151...but guys, it's 1 event...it's not the end of the world.
people can say it's jon's fault because he would'nt take another opponant at short notice...i'm pretty sure anyone here, in his position would proberbly do the same. it's easy to blast him behind your keyboard but the fact is ANYONE has a puncher's chance at winning the belt...hell, on the right day, ken shamrock could proberbly put jon on his ass if he caught him.
from jon's point of view (and proberbly greg jacksons advice) he has been built up to be this enigma of the sport that no-one can put down, and being the champ, why risk it for a biscuit at a last minute...he's just playing clever and securing his future...i get what he's doing...his mouth may annoy people as he can sometimes come accross a little smug but i think his values are still there and he'll come back down to earth soon, evan more so if and when he loses the belt...i think we'll see the old version of jones like gsp after he lost and regained his belt via serra...gsp was not as douchey as jones can appear right now, but the focus will come back and hopefully his humble side that we used to see.
it's like michael jackson...you get enought people telling you your on top of the world, you think you are
as for dana, well i wouldn't blame him for the cancellation of the event BUT between him and the fajita bros., they only have themselves to blame for not building a strong enough card to carry the PPV...again, too much laid on jones shoulder on this one, that's for sure.
rather than cancel the event, maybe they could'a just branded it as a FIGHT NIGHT/ON FOX or evan a 150.2 and gave the option to fans who bought either tickets or PPV a discounted price on their next event...i dunno, i'm sure something could'a been done, maybe evan at a quick turnover, special free t-shirts could have been made and given to ticket holders/sent to ppv'iewers in compensation (something similar happened over here in the UK when Soundgarden cancelled their last tour and split up) ...normally, everyone should have a back-up plan...what if jones was injured and had to pull out 3 days before...what would happen then? who would have the finger pointed at them then?
personally, i don't think and 1 man is to blame, least of all jones...i think the top dawg's need to prepare a little more with a back-up plan next time rather than clutching at straws and pulling someone else to fill the spot.
'any 1 man' (sux can't edit)
UFC LEARNED NOT TO TRUST YOU! What happened with Nikie??? Just do it?????
The only lesson the UFC learned John is that you don't fight when your on your period. Or blowing your trainers. Thanks ****!