As the UFC’s premier athlete, Jon Jones has been compared to many stars from other sports; but his recent actions have given us the most accurate comparison in the NBA’s LeBron James.
Comparing the two, the similarities are striking.
Both are transcendent talents that have defined an era and changed the way their respective sports are played. Both are considered to be physical specimens unlike any athletes we have seen in the past.
Jones and James have given awe-inspiring performances that set a new bar for dominance. Jones, much like James, came into the sport and dominated in ways that we had never seen. Jones’ freakish athleticism and creativity in the Octagon have established himself as the best fighter in the game today.
LeBron has used his freakish size, strength and agility to become his sport’s marquee player from the outset of his career, and the spotlight grows on him each and every year.
The similarities don’t stop on the court/in the Octagon either, as both have experienced a similar arc in terms of public perception.
James entered the league as the uber-talented wonderkid from Akron, Ohio. Going to his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers, he single-handedly resurrected a franchise and had fans dreaming of the city’s first professional sports championship since 1964. There was no bigger hero in all of sports than LeBron James to the state of Ohio, and he was loved for it.
Jones didn’t come into his sport with quite as much hype, but he soon made a name for himself. Jones’ early UFC career included a dominant win over Stephan Bonnar and a pair of headline fights against Vladimir Matyushenko and Brandon Vera that catapulted him into title contention.
Then came the most impressive year of Jones’ career. In 2011, Jones made his claim as the best fighter in the world, beating Ryan Bader, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Lyoto Machida in short order.
Throughout most of Jones’ rise to prominence, he was the model spokesperson for the UFC. His clean-cut image and diatribes on work ethic, confidence and perseverance were a marketer’s dream.
Then things took a turn for the worse.
On May 19, 2012, Jones was charged with a DWI after wrecking his Bentley into a pole at around 5 a.m.
While James hasn’t had to deal with any criminal charges, he knows a thing or two about tarnishing his reputation and image.
Jones’ decision to not accept a fight with Chael Sonnen on eight days’ notice can best be compared to James’ infamous “decision.”
In both cases, you had two athletes who were doing what they thought was best for their career only to face a huge amount of backlash and scrutiny from media and fans alike.
LeBron chose to shed his label of hometown hero to increase his chances of winning a title—forever altering his legacy along the way. Much like Jones’ backlash, LeBron was blamed for letting down so many people who depended upon him and not having a good sense for what the move would do to his image.
By choosing to not fight Chael Sonnen and in turn force the UFC to cancel an event, Jones has forever altered his legacy. While Jones will be remembered as a champion, this incident will always be linked to his career.
Ultimately, LeBron was able to win his elusive championship with the Heat, which, in some ways, has validated his decision.
As the saying goes, winning can fix just about anything. The question is, can Jones win enough to make fans forget about his decision?
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