UFC welterweight Matt Brown isn’t happy with Jon Jones, but it doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to see the former light heavyweight champ ever fight again.
Jones was suspended indefinitely last week 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.
“Me, personally, I think it was the right thing to strip the title, but when it comes down to it, I want to see the best fighters in the world fight the best fighters in the world,” Brown said Thursday on FOX Sports’ The Great MMA Debate podcast. “For PR purposes they have to strip the title, it’s the right thing to do. The fact is, the champion is the guy who never lost. Everything outside of the cage is meaningless. I want to see motherf***ers fight. I don’t care what he does.
“I don’t care that [Floyd] Mayweather has these domestic abuse things. There’s a million motherf***ers with domestic abuse that I hate just as much for that. If they are great fighters I want to watch them be great fighters. That’s why I watch the sport.”
Jones was arrested on charges of leaving the scene of an accident involving death or personal injuries.
Jones tested positive for cocaine metabolites in a Dec. 4 random drug test, 30 days before his title clash with Daniel Cormier at UFC 182 in Las Vegas, Nevada. He entered a drug rehab treatment facility, but stayed only 24 hours.
“I never wanted to throw Jon Jones under the bus for the coke, I don’t give a f**k if you go party or the other things that he’s done,” Brown said. “This one I didn’t like because he left a pregnant woman at the scene hurt. There’s no way he didn’t know. I don’t believe for a second he didn’t know what he was doing.
“So selfish. I don’t really wish anything good for him at this point.”
Brown compared Jones to a younger version of himself, ‘not understanding the consequences.’
“Jon is probably in that situation, too,” said Brown. “He had no idea. He’s just having a good time, living for the moment. He doesn’t think about, ‘Holy s**t, what if I hit a pregnant woman?’ But then the problem becomes the excuses. They’ve got to stop somewhere. At some point you say, ‘OK, there’s no f***ing excuse for this.’ You hit her, don’t run away. Man up. F***ing throw your title in the trash and make sure this woman’s OK.
“I have all the sympathy for his struggles with drugs and things like that, but no matter how much you’re struggling with that, you leave the scene of a pregnant woman being hurt? I don’t give a f**k about you no more.”
Albuquerque police found a marijuana pipe with marijuana inside it in what is believed to be a car driven by Jon Jones, but the former champ hasn’t been charged for marijuana possession.
Brown also touched on a popular speculation that Jones could have returned to the car to dispose of additional incriminating material.
“It’s easy for us to put ourselves in his shoes and say, ‘I see why he did it.’ But that doesn’t excuse it. I see why he did it. You did it because you were selfish. He probably had some coke in the car, some money, some alcohol, whatever he had that he had to get rid of, but that doesn’t excuse it.
“I don’t care what he had in that car. I don’t care if he had 10 kilos and was looking at life in prison. There’s a pregnant woman’s life at risk. Who knows? I might be just as selfish of an a**hole and do the same thing and I hope that everyone would f***ing hate me for it, too.”
As for UFC commentator Joe Rogan’s musings that Jones’ behavior may be linked to head trauma, Brown isn’t buying it.
“He wasn’t brain-damaged enough to not think about coming back and getting the s**t to take care of himself.”
Brown faces Tim Means July 11 at UFC 189 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
The MMA Beat. The panel discusses the new Reebok compensation terms, the revamping of the UFC Hall of Fame, Jon Jones fallout, and more.
Pushing. Johny Hendricks ‘wants no part’ of fighting Tyron Woodley, according to the latter’s manager.
Boxing vs. MMA. After Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, Junior dos Santos says MMA is ‘way bigger than boxing.’ ‘Of course, the athletes in boxing make a lot of money, that’s the biggest difference.’
From the inside. On the heels of the announcement of Zuffa’s Athlete Outfitting Policy compensation structure, UFC Middleweight Josh Samman takes a look at the numbers and what to make of them.
Quite a swing. Jorge Masvidal moves up to welterweight to meet former middleweight Cezar Ferreira at the TUF 21 Finale.
MEDIA STEW
Pettis is out.
Open workouts at GLORY 21.
METAMORIS 6: Keenan Cornelius VS Xande Ribeiro Countdown.
Floyd Mayweather talks fight with Pacquiao.
CM Punk on a fight with the green power ranger at C2E2 last week.
Nick Diaz on bears.
Long watches.
The MMA Report – Forrest Griffin and Marc Raimondi
…
Joe Rogan Experience #645 – Joe Schilling
…
(Heavy Hands) Joe Delguyd: Only Jessica Eye can beat Ronda Rousey
…
TWEETS
Khabib back at it.
I’m 23 fights deep in the @ufc since 21 I never pulled out a fight ur #bothmadefromglass #lolaturshittalkin #rookies pic.twitter.com/3EM9lBYGaO
— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) May 8, 2015
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Well wishes.
Wish you fast recovery. I know how hard it is. I believe our fight is inevitable @Showtimepettis @ufc @Reebok pic.twitter.com/TULlRdLBfs
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) May 8, 2015
.@Showtimepettis Bummed to hear the news. Let’s handle biz as soon as you’re 100%! Wish you well & speedy recovery.
— Myles Jury (@FuryJury) May 8, 2015
Congrats.
?? Thank you http://t.co/cuGToB64aB for making me feel cool today … https://t.co/WCLP6oUgUD
— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) May 7, 2015
More Reebok.
$2500?!?!?!!!!!….. But hey they do throw in a pair of shoes…. Pffft. Ouch that hurts the wallet. #Reebok
— Brandon Thatch (@RUKUSMMA303) May 7, 2015
Hey Floyd here’s 40k and no you can’t have Burger King walk out with you! Here wear these generic shorts all week don’t likem? Too bad
— Al Iaquinta (@ALIAQUINTA) May 7, 2015
Lebron unless you have 20 seasons, you are still at 2nd tier in sponsors bro
— Al Iaquinta (@ALIAQUINTA) May 7, 2015
5 yrs from now a bunch of naive fighters will regret their choices of not caring to make more $ in & outside the cage. #RaiseYourStandards
— Aljamain Sterling (@FunkMaster_UFC) May 7, 2015
Hey everybody, look at the emperor’s new clothes! They look amazing, don’t they!
— Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) May 7, 2015
I’m not blaming anybody for anything. I congratulated them on negotiating the deal of the century. Sucks for us tho https://t.co/jCXEAcrm9D
— Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) May 7, 2015
I’ma professional fighter w 13 fights in the @ufc and I can’t express an opinion of my money being taken out of concern of the punishment.
— Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) May 7, 2015
Per advice from my legal professional, I will refrain from further comment on this @reebok matter. Y’all know my sentiments.
— Matt Mitrione (@mattmitrione) May 7, 2015
If you are an mma fighter and are not happy with current conditions in your profession follow @mmafa The time is now to organize.
— Jon Fitch (@jonfitchdotnet) May 7, 2015
I, for one, have no qualms with the @reebok deal, but I won’t ever forget about those that have been… https://t.co/3b2yiSgUEx
— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) May 8, 2015
#huntingtheirish
#venicebeach #witthehomies #rollin #huntingtheirish #skateordie @savjitsu riokid https://t.co/pXdlCkGk1Z
— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) May 8, 2015
Interested?
Just found an old tape of @nickdiaz209 TKOing my cousin Ralek for doing “spinning shit”. Let me know if I should share it
— Cesar Gracie (@CesarGracieBJJ) May 8, 2015
#bringbackburt
. @BurtWatson4real first appearance outside the UFC. Thanks for supporting our show, Burt! https://t.co/tnWXnCerZQ #WeRollin
— James Krause (@TheJamesKrause) May 8, 2015
This Week in Struggle.
So the day I had surgery. My gym flooded :/ still dealing with the repairs #WhenItRainsItPours lol pic.twitter.com/C81lNnbmHy
— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) May 5, 2015
Repetition leads to progression https://t.co/P8uhwBDIKC
— Georges St-Pierre (@GeorgesStPierre) May 6, 2015
Dammit, trying to think of a reason to drive in the area of the frozen custard place.
— Jon Fitch (@jonfitchdotnet) May 6, 2015
Had a coach tell me today that if I fought 50% as well as I sparred I’d beat everyone. #fml
— Jake Heun (@JakeHeun) May 7, 2015
Just a couple of dads trying to make it in this world. #thestruggleisreal #dilfsofdisneyla… https://t.co/zGhO7fGi0q pic.twitter.com/AJiqRdkhAg
— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) May 5, 2015
After math of sparring with Olympic boxers #abbotkinneyfightclub https://t.co/OMK05UZ9tf
— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) May 5, 2015
Its about that time again operation skeletor starts now! #cuttingweight #UFCAdelaide #alliancemma pic.twitter.com/OrPFyQir99
— ‘Rowdy’ Bec Rawlings (@RowdyBec) May 8, 2015
There’s no rule how you get your belt.. Almeida Big Dog got his after been throw from a boat https://t.co/Bem0G4TQfL pic.twitter.com/n4YRN6Fdhq
— Renzo_Gracie_BJJ (@RenzoGracieBJJ) May 6, 2015
If you don’t like somebody why do you follow this person??
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) May 4, 2015
I wonder how many calories I burn just to get to the bathroom? @ACLrecoveryCLUB
— Georgi Karakhanyan (@georgimma) May 5, 2015
I spend WAYYYY too much time alone!!!! Hahaha someone take my phone away from me https://t.co/iQYFIO3MPl
— Paige VanZant (@PaigeVanzantUFC) May 8, 2015
Struggle bus 3 miles but without struggle there can be no progress #TeamBiggie #TBD https://t.co/SQor9vUZat
— Michael (@TeamRocBiggie) May 8, 2015
New #DuRags mess up da game like skinny jeans! Either 2toned or 2Stretchy. When u find a good 1 #Wildout #HoodRich pic.twitter.com/1qLvPGzfvj
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) May 3, 2015
Guess my dive buddy’s DOG. Not really a FORD guys pic.twitter.com/cMT1LqAQQt
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) May 3, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (May 7 2015)
Jake Ellenberger vs. Stephen Thompson at UFC 189
Sergio Moraes vs. Peter Sobotta at UFC Fight Night: Jedrzejczyk vs. Penne
Cezar Ferreira vs. Jorge Masvidal at The Ultimate Fighter 21 Finale
Joseph Duffy vs. Ivan Jorge at UFC Fight Night: Scotland
Anthony Pettis out, Edson Barboza vs. Myles Jury at UFC on FOX 16
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via MegaMax.
Prospects Battle: Jake Matthews vs. James Vick
The UFC returns down under for an event that will be the first of eight in consecutive weeks of UFC events (yay?). Being a fan might get tiring during this marathon. With so many fights in a row, I figure a delve into some of the important match ups (and some that are under the radar) might add a bit of interest beyond the UFC logo.
The first matchup that I want to spend time on is the opening bout of the main card this Saturday. 20 year old “Celtic Kid” Jake Matthews will take on six foot three James Vick in a battle of TUF veterans and undefeated prospects.
Half of the dozen bouts of the Adelaide card will feature TUF veterans squaring off with one another. In terms of prospects, Matthews vs. Vick is the most meaningful as both fighters are young enough to continue improving and both have the potential at making runs towards the top of the uber-talented lightweight division if brought along correctly.
Who are they?
…
Check out the rest of the post here.
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.