Jon Jones has reigned the UFC light heavyweight division for years, since 2011 to be exact. He dominated Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua to become the youngest promotional champion to date, only 23-years old at the time.
As of now, he currently is at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings, and is widely regarded as the best active mixed martial artist, and arguably one of the greatest, ever.
It hasn’t just been his dominant title defenses that have made headlines over the years — let’s just say, he’s gotten into trouble on multiple occasions. For example, in 2012, he pleaded guilty to DUI in Birmingham, N.Y. Earlier this year, he failed a pre-fight drug test for cocaine metabolites, prior to his bout with Daniel Cormier, which he won via decision.
But, his controversies have reached a climax.
This past Sunday, Jones allegedly ran a red light and crashed into a pregnant woman’s car. A third car was also involved in the crash. The woman suffered a broken arm and the champion fled the scene. Witnesses say he shortly returned to his rented Buick SUV to quickly grab a bundle of cash he left behind. Shortly after, police found documents connecting the vehicle to him, marijuana and a pipe in the Buick.
Initially, he was only “wanted for questioning”. Soon after he was upgraded to the case’s suspect, and also, his charge was changed, as well. Due to the fact the pregnant woman suffered an injury severe enough, it was changed from misdemeanor to felony.
On Monday evening, Jones turned himself in, but later that night was released after posting $2,500 in bail.
He is expected to face Anthony Johnson for the title at UFC 187 next month. Although, should that fight, realistically, still go on?
Not one chance.
Jones has often talked about his Christian beliefs and being a role model, although, through his title run and career he has not showed that one bit. Simply, the opposite.
A man who could now be forced to serve jail time, should not be fighting for a UFC championship. Like I stated above, he’s had his run-ins in the past, including the 2012 DUI case. Every single time he’s ran into trouble, he’s been let off the hook by the UFC, pretty easily. When he tested positive for cocaine, he was given a $25,000 fine, which was 5% of his fight purse — in other words, not a big deal.
It’s time for the UFC (and parent company, Zuffa) to do something about this. Jones, despite how much money he makes the promotion, how many pay-per-view buys he racks in because of his star power, needs to be given a severe punishment. He’s been ruining the UFC image for years, especially lately.
Sure, the UFC got some good promotional value out of the late-2014 Jones-Cormier brawl, but does it really make the two fighters — and the promotion — look good? Does having two top fighters getting into a scuffle, and having the champion roar to the media, benefit them in the long run?
Not at all.
In a UFC that is lacking stars these days, sure, keeping ‘Bones’ around would benefit them money-wise. But, not as a whole picture, and in the long run. Realistically, Jones should probably be cut from the UFC. But that simply won’t happen. We know the UFC.
Although, it’s time for the UFC to show that they’ve changed, that we don’t know them. That the Code of Conduct really does matter. It’s time to strip Jones, arguably the best fighter on the planet today, of his light heavyweight belt, he’s held for four years.
Zuffa. Make your move.
