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Morning Report: Jon Jones on previous troubles: ‘I feel like the storm is behind me’

February 03, 2020
Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

This weekend, one of the greatest fighters of all time will once against step into the cage to defend his light heavyweight title. Jon Jones’ personal struggles are well-documented at this point. Jones has frequently found himself in the center of controversy since he was stripped of his UFC light heavyweight title the first time. But last year was a comeback year for Jones, and since returning in 2018 from his most recent suspension, the biggest controversy that Jones has kept his nose clean, something the light heavyweight champion puts that down to his newfound maturity.

Speaking with Ariel Helwani recently, Jones said that he believes his put all of his issues behind him and that he envisions smooth sailing ahead.

“I do feel like the storm is behind me,” Jones said. “It has been an interesting journey and I’ve learned so much. I’m just grateful. I’m grateful to have had all the lessons that I’ve been able to learn. I’m grateful that god has kept me through all of it and allow me to grow so much through it all. Yeah, I think my best days are still ahead of me. I feel like I’m just now really getting into a nice groove about what it means to be a father and a professional athlete and a person with great responsibility, and I’m excited about this and I feel like I’m stepping into it well.”

Hopefully that’s true. Jones is widely considered to be one of the most talented fighters in history, but his numerous outside-the-cage issues have stunted what would have seemingly been a Michael Jordan-esque career for the prodigy. That was one of the things about Jones that was so frustrating for fans, that Jones seemed intent on throwing away all of his many gifts. Even UFC President Dana White famously suggested that Jones’ story would make a tremendous 30 for 30 documentary, and ultimately, Jones agrees. That’s what finally . helped him move past his self-sabotaging ways.

“I just feel like I was maybe at a place where I felt like I was throwing a lot of greatness away and I believe that talent and when you have opportunity, it’s a terrible thing to waste,” Jones said. “So I feel like these days I take more accountability for my actions and my emotions and my circle and behaviors and things like that. I think that’s been the major difference, just more accountability.”

That being said, this is still the fight business and certain people have a way of getting under the skin of others. Even last year, Jones found himself in the middle of an escalating beef with middleweight champion Israel Adesanya that evoked thoughts of Jones’ bitter feud with Daniel Cormier. Will this feud turn into a destructive one like Jones’ beef with Cormier was? Only time will tell but Jones is confident that that part of his life is over and the best is yet to come for him.

“You can never promise anything in life,” Jones said. “You just never know what twists and turns life is going throw at you. But I do feel like I’m on a great track and I’m excited to just continue to elevate and just be the best person that I can be and try to help as many people as I can help. I’ve never been more excited for my future. I’m really excited for my future. I see nothing but great things coming in my future.”

MUST-READ STORIES

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USADA. Diego Sanchez accepts three-month USADA suspension for ostarine, S-23.

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VIDEO STEW

UFC 247 promo.

Dominick Reyes’ top finishes.

Derrick Lewis’ top finishes.

Ali with some big numbers he’s throwing out there.

Max doing some cliff jumping.

LISTEN UP

Severe MMA. Discussing UFC 247, McGregor’s PPV numbers, and Stephen A. Smith.

SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

A good plan if Rafael Lovato Jr. really is forced into retirement.

Beef.

Yoel.

At least he knows what he’s getting into.

Holy sh*t rumble has trimmed down.

Well this would be a waste of time.

Tough to argue with this logic.

And all these years we thought it was Rich Franklin who was Lloyd Christmas.

Juan Adams is great.

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Steve Mowry (7-0) vs. Rudy Schaffroth (6-1); Bellator 239, Feb. 21.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Thanks for reading and see y’all tomorrow.

EXIT POLL

If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @JedKMeshew on Twitter and let him know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram, add us on Snapchat at MMA-Fighting, and like us on Facebook.

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