Jon Jones Defies His Critics

Jon Jones Defies His Critics

What goes on away from the octagon masks what a phenomenal fighter Jon Jones really is. What has gone before will mean whatever he does in the future or indeed what he did in the past, will always be clouded with suspicion, Jones can’t have too many complaints it’s something he has brought on himself.

To come out to the words of “I’ve done my sentence but committed no crime” will fall on deaf ears to many, Jones still defiant or remaining in denial, opinions will differ on that point.

But strip away all the controversy Jones is as close to unbeatable as we are likely to ever see. Alexander Gustafsson came the closest to beating him in their first fight in 2013, but the rematch was a completely different story. Jones controlled the range and the pace of the fight, and while Gustafsson had a decent 2nd round he never had the look of a fighter who could upset Jones.

Jones came out quickly in the 3rd and got the takedown he had been looking for since the opening bell, and the end was then almost inevitable. Jones soon got the back and a little ground and pound forced the referee to stop the fight at the 2:02 point of the round to reclaim the UFC light heavyweight title.

In his first fight back, Jones has reasserted his dominance in the light heavyweight division, and there looks no serious contender in sight. A move to heavyweight and new challenges surely awaits him. A 3rd fight with Daniel Cormier at heavyweight or a money fight with Brock Lesnar are obvious immediate targets.

To be fair to Jones, other fighters on the card have had previous drug issues and their past doesn’t get constantly brought up, but with Jones, the scrutiny is greater. Maybe with the passing of time, the past will be just that and Jones can be allowed to build a legacy that stands the test of time. But with Jones, you always sense trouble isn’t that far away. Most people deserve another chance but Jones has already had more than his fair share of chances, but I think even he knows he’s in the last chance saloon.

This week we have seen the good, the bad and the downright ugly side of the sport. It’s been a week to forget, a week which lessons need to be learned. We have been blinded by science, a simple sport clouded by confusion and much worse.

I would rather forget much of the week that was, but as ever the fighters and the fights make it all worthwhile. Amanda Nunes gave us one of those special moments and she deserves her moment in the sun, nothing or nobody should cloud it, it was in many ways her night.