“Disaster. All across the board.”
Much like the rest of us, UFC commentator Joe Rogan is left scratching his head as to the behavior of now former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
Jones was suspended indefinitely and stripped of his title by the UFC following his alleged involvement in a felony hit and and run auto accident in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
“Jon Jones is likely going to jail,” Rogan said last week on his podcast. “Hit and run. Crashed into a pregnant woman, allegedly, I should say. Broke her arm. She was rushed to the hospital, but pregnant, which has got to be terrifying for her. To be in a car crash and smashed by a guy who runs a red light and then flees the scene of the crime.”
Sought for questioning by police, Jones turned himself into authorities the evening of April 27, days after the incident took place early April 24. Jones was arrested on charges of leaving the scene of an accident involving death or personal injuries.
“He disappeared, for like 24 hours at least,” said Rogan. “Probably even more. A couple days, I think he disappeared for. Obviously, the speculation would be that [Jones] was on something that he would worried about being tested for for 24 hours or 48 hours or whatever it was.”
Only hinting at Jones’ failed pre-fight drug test for cocaine metabolites at UFC 182, Rogan began to ponder whether or not some of the former champion’s questionable behavior could be attributed to head trauma.
“This should be really clear,” said Rogan. “I am, without a doubt, not trying to let [Jones] off the hook. What he did was horrible. If it was someone in my family that he hit with that car I would be unbelievably furious. I’m incredibly disappointed in him. I think the UFC absolutely did the right thing in stripping him of his title. I think law enforcement is going to do the right thing by putting him in jail. They’re going to. You can’t do that.
“You can’t hit someone with a car and leave the scene of the crime. It is a crime, but there are things that people do because they have brain damage. That’s where the real question comes up. Obviously they’re responsible ultimately for their own actions, but what is it that’s responsible for making them do that action?”
Rogan seemed to open up a sort of ‘chicken and the egg’ argument on fighter behavior. Are erratic athletes more likely to become fighters? Or do athletes become erratic as a result of fighting?
“If the brain is getting damaged and if we have proven that some of the issues with people that have brain damage is impulse control you’ve got to wonder when you see fighters do wild, crazy s**t, how much of that is due to getting bonked in the f***ing head all the time?”
5 MUST-READ STORIES
‘He’ll still go down as the greatest of all time.’ Jon Jones’s manager says the former champion may never return to MMA. ‘If it’s the last time we’ve seen him fight, it’s the last time we’ve seen him fight. And I’m OK with that.’
‘I don’t buy it.’ Daniel Cormier says he feels ‘very disrespected’ by those saying he doesn’t deserve to fight for the title against Anthony Johnson. ‘I’ve lost one time … the last time, when I lost rounds to Jones was the first time I’ve lost rounds in a fight.’
‘I’ll feel like I’m the champ if I beat [Cormier].’ Anthony Johnson approves of Jon Jones being stripped of the title. ‘I think it’s the right call.’
The holy trinity. UFC and WSOF veteran Melvin Guillard signs a multi-year, multi-fight contract with Bellator.
Shake up. Ryan Bader has been pulled off the UFC’s New Orleans card and Dan Henderson vs. Tim Boetsch will serve as the new headliner.
Watch The MMA Hour with Daniel Cormier, Anthony Johnson, Junior dos Santos, Ryan Bader, Malki Kawa, Michelle Waterson, Jessica Penne and Luke Thomas.
MEDIA STEW
Great profile on Donald Cerrone’s ranch.
One on one with Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Chi Lewis Parry’s pre-fight interview for GLORY 21.
An Albuquerque police officer called into the Opie & Jim Norton show to talk about Jon Jones.
Stipe’s European vacation.
Soa Palelei is down to save the whales.
Long watches.
Knuckle Up #367: The Boxing Emperor’s No Clothes, Post WW2 Fails + Jon Jones’ Delicious Failings
…
Season 2 Episode 16 – Art of Jiu Jitsu’s Rick Slomba (2014 World Champion)
…
TWEETS
Intriguing beef.
Just sign the contract …
— Jake Ellenberger (@EllenbergerMMA) May 5, 2015
He’s not who he says he is. He’s a sheep. Watch,, he won’t sign it …
— Jake Ellenberger (@EllenbergerMMA) May 5, 2015
He’s sidestepped ALL the Hitters’
— Jake Ellenberger (@EllenbergerMMA) May 5, 2015
He’s gonna be Eatin’ mango slices, talkin’ to a fly on the ceiling like a long-lost friend after July 11th.
— Jake Ellenberger (@EllenbergerMMA) May 5, 2015
Get well soon.
I’ll be in vegas tomorrow to start rehab. Big thanks to @danawhite and @lorenzofertitta for paying for surgery and sending me to best doctor
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) May 4, 2015
Thank you @OCFIGHTDOCS and Ed Mora for the CPM machine set up #cpmmachine #NeverQuit pic.twitter.com/WLKiLw54Tr
— Georgi Karakhanyan (@georgimma) May 4, 2015
Fun.
Today I hit Las Vegas with my coach John and my entire team from Ireland. My team since day 1. This is the evolution of fight preparation.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) May 4, 2015
I have secured myself and my team a 7 bedroom, 12,000 square foot gated estate, just off the Las Vegas strip.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) May 4, 2015
Welcome to The MAC Mansion. http://t.co/v3qGejzJOm
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) May 4, 2015
Congrats.
Excited to be involved in my first main event! #UFCNOLA I don’t see this one making it to the championship rounds though! #teambarbarian
— Tim Boetsch (@TimBoetsch) May 5, 2015
Congratulations to @NordineTaleb @franciscarmont @AlexGarciaMMA on their brown belts today and @predatortoon on the purple belt!!
— Firas Zahabi (@Firas_Zahabi) May 4, 2015
Interested?
I’d love the opportunity to welcome Melvin to @bellator. @richchou @scottcoker
— Charlie Brenneman (@SpaniardMMA) May 4, 2015
Agree?
I’m a good judge of amateur boxing, but the scoring for the Pros has always confused me. I thought Pac won. https://t.co/V2Ulbmfzf4
— Chael Sonnen (@sonnench) May 5, 2015
Alright.
If he wants to… Thats fine. I’m preparing for it all. But it would be fight of the year if he stands with me. https://t.co/EXFRTpnX1I
— JohnTheBull Makdessi (@JohnMakdessiMMA) May 4, 2015
Happy holidays.
Happy Star Wars day!! #maythe4thbewithyou #teamdarkside https://t.co/xzalAEfo0b
— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) May 4, 2015
May the 4th be with you. “Your Anger Makes You Stronger” #starwars #tattoo #nerd #sith https://t.co/ZO0ui4Akyx
— Andre Fili (@TouchyFili) May 4, 2015
I’ve always thought of myself as more of a Sith type. #maythefourthbewithyou #teamdarkside… https://t.co/FBcF1io2Vd
— russell doane (@RussellDoane135) May 4, 2015
Happy Star Wars Day!! #MayTheFourthBeWithYou https://t.co/QQhrpxleul pic.twitter.com/uKml0ysEid
— Jessamyn Duke (@jessamynduke) May 4, 2015
Plotting my victory and ruling the galaxy….. #MayThe4ThBeWithYou #thedarkside #joinus #teamiridium… https://t.co/DqthzCrILI
— Terrion Flash Ware (@flashmma) May 4, 2015
#maythe4thbewithyou #Repost @desautomatas ??? #TeamDarkSide kelvingastelum https://t.co/KrZC9gh1sv
— #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) May 4, 2015
Boba couldn’t wait for #starwarsday pic.twitter.com/6dDnFt9OQS
— Nick Newell (@NotoriousNewell) May 4, 2015
Ohhhhhhhh…”May”…Like the month but also as in “you can or are allowed to”. And “fourth”…sounds like “force”. Totally get it now.
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) May 4, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (May 4 2015)
Daniel Sarafian out, Ricardo Abreu vs. Jake Collier at UFC Fight Night: Boetsch vs. Henderson
Thomas Almeida vs. Brad Pickett at UFC 189
Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.