And this didn’t help “DC’s” case at all.
Jon Jones was already eager to prove that he is truly the best light heavyweight on the planet following a year-long layoff heading into his title fight against Daniel Cormier at UFC 197 in April 23, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
But following his recent 48-hour jail stint in Albuquerque, New Mexico, “Bones” says he has a new appreciation for freedom, his family, and the opportunity to fight for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
That said, he feels he is now more humble than ever and grateful to be able to do what he does best, which is knock heads in an eight-walled cage. So come fight night, fans and his opponents can expect a much more focused and appreciative “Bones.”
He broke it down on The MMA Hour:
“It was an opportunity to be re-humbled. It honestly made me think about some of the things I earned. My home, my bed mattress, my beautiful fiance, my kids. It made me really think of how blessed I am. It made me more grateful than ever to have freedom, be famous, all this stuff; things I take for granted. I was sitting there in a jail cell eating Ramen noodles, worst food ever, 23-hour lock down. It was like man, what a different way to live. To go from having so much, I remember a guy gave me pen and paper and I felt so grateful for such a simple thing. It was for a reason. I think God has a plan for me and maybe I needed more humbling. It made me more humble than ever. I have the opportunity to compete in the UFC in front of the whole world and how much of a special thing that really is and how my life can be so different. I just thought about these things and I took a lot of positive from it. A lot of times to reflect how grateful I am to be in this sport, this position and I am more grateful than ever.”
Jones landed in jail following a traffic violation that saw him get earn five citations after engaging in a heated dispute with a police officer. With more traffic violations on his resume that anyone could care for, “Bones” has taken the right steps to avoid further street transgressions by hiring a full-time driver.
And in what proved to be an unexpected plot twist to an already crazy story, Cormier — who was forced out of his rematch against Jones — offered Saint Preux the chance to fly to California to train with him and his talented team ahead of his own title fight against “Bones.”
Though “OSP” respectfully declined the offer, Jones himself found the move further proof that “DC” really doesn’t want to fight him again.
“Daniel is an absolute coward who will never beat me. And I say that not from an arrogant place, I say that from a place where me getting my belt back means everything to me. I represent that belt as a big part of my life. It means everything to me. You know, me losing to ‘OSP’ should be the last thing he should want because if I were to somehow lose, he doesn’t get to avenge his only loss. Him inviting Saint Preux to his training camp shows me that he is so grateful that he is not fighting me in three weeks. He is so grateful he has one more family photo op with that belt. He knows he is not going to beat me, especially not with a knee injury. He’s going to be nursing his knee to get back to 100-percent, I’m only getting stronger, better, and faster and more rehearsed in my gameplan to beat him. Daniel is a mental midget, I’m not worried about Daniel. Him inviting ‘OSP’ shows he’s so lucky to watch from the sidelines and not in the cage with me.”
Burn.
What has proven to be one of the most bitter rivalries in all of mixed martial arts (MMA) won’t be cooling off anytime soon, as it seems it has just been postponed for the time being.
And though Jones is upset that “DC” wasn’t “willing to die” to fight and beat him, he wants him fully healed and excuse free for when they actually do meet up again.