Jon Jones is gearing up for his UFC 309 pay-per-view against Stipe Miocic. Ahead of what could be a promotional double legacy retirement, he has prepared hard and even updated fans on it. ‘Bones’ has also tried his best to stay out of any controversies ahead of his fight. He recently uploaded a video to Instagram that attracted the usual attention: one regarding the viral P Diddy!
In his latest IG post, ‘Bones’ honed his archery skills. He captioned a thank note, mentioning an “awesome experience with @psebows.” Of course, many fans were commenting on the post about his upcoming fight and friendship with Alex Pereira. But one strain of thought became quite controversial, “Hey Jon Jones, have you ever been to a Diddy party?” Jones shut down the proposition sternly.
Subsequently, Jon Jones has not been a straight arrow these past few years. He once admitted to waging a built-in excuse to justify a loss and indulged in drinking. The former 205lbs champion had that fail-safe after his short-camp first fight with Alexander Gustafsson. From DUIs to his alleged assault on a DFSI agent a few months ago, it’s a tall tale. Hence, Jones was quick to snub further controversy.
Unlike other fighters, Jones did not start with violent intentions about rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. He did use P Diddy’s “I’m Comin’ Home” as his walkout track before. Now, ‘Bones’ is putting a nail on ending the association just there. Many sports entities have gotten entwined in this. Even those in the combat sports community have had their opinions on it. But Jones is on a one-mind track for UFC 309.
Jon Jones has uphill task ahead, snubbed as MMA’s ‘Jordan’ again
Jones defends his heavyweight title vs. former champion Stipe Miocic in just a month. Come the UFC 309 November main event, Jones finally gets back into the fold after his pectoral tear. It’ll be hard for Jones to top his heavyweight debut. At UFC 285, he went through Ciryl Gane for a first-round submission but has yet to mark his stamp further.
There’s also the potent challenges from Stipe Miocic himself. However, the biggest deterrent to Jon Jones is Jones himself. The 37-year-old G.O.A.T. often faces harsh truths over his multiple run-ins with the law and trial through fire. Taking three years on a contractual hash debuff, then one more, and then one more on injury – many consider him an installment G.O.A.T.
Recently, although he respects the game, old rival Daniel Cormier snubbed him the status of being the “Michael Jordan of MMA.” Now, all-time flyweight G.O.A.T. candidate Demetrious Johnson does the same. He highlighted why that was the case.
When you look at the later years of Jon Jones’s career… those fights weren’t as exciting… At the end of my career, I’m doing flying armbars in a world title fight, right? If you look at whose skillset developed over time, I would say mine did. When you look at Michael Jordan, I felt like his skillset kept on developing…
Demetrious Johnson on ‘Anik & Florian Podcast’ | RTS.137
Demetrious Johnson says he wouldn’t call Jon Jones the ‘Michael Jordan of MMA’
-Advertisement-“At the end of my career, I’m doing flying armbars in a world title fight. If you look at whose skillset developed over time, I would say mine did. When you look at Michael Jordan, I felt like his… pic.twitter.com/xhz0BErWri
— Full Violence ™ (@Full_Violence) September 27, 2024
Cormier argues that the six-time NBA Champ and the Chicago Bulls fame played 15 seasons yet had accomplishments outside the game. By acclamation of his ‘Legends Profile’ at NBA.com, he’s still “the greatest basketball player of all time.” Meanwhile, Bones has had trouble running outside the game, and his “time” in the UFC competition has been limited.
Additionally, Demetrious Johnson elaborates that even in the game, Jones was not doing stuff exciting enough at the end of his 205lbs title run. It would be hard to top his game against Gane last year, especially in a legacy blowout fight.
