Jon Jones has never been one to shy away from reflecting on how far mixed martial arts has come, and a recent interview gave the heavyweight champion a platform to do just that.
Speaking ahead of IBA Bare Knuckle 5, Jones opened up about how the UFC’s White House event changed his perspective on the sport he has dedicated his life to.
“It really showed me. It humbled me and it just showed me that our sport is at a prestigious level right now,” Jones said. “When I first started MMA, we weren’t allowed to compete in New York State. People looked at it as being taboo, a very weird thing to do. And now it’s like a very honorable sport to be a part of, probably one of the most honorable sports to be a part of right now in history.”
He acknowledged that the White House card made him feel a greater sense of his own legacy. He stated, “I’m grateful to be considered one of the best in the sport’s history. It makes me feel a lot more important since the White House card.”
The conversation also turned to Ciryl Gane’s victory over Alex Pereira at heavyweight. Jones, who previously competed against Gane and has long wanted a matchup with Pereira, offered candid analysis on both men. He felt Pereira came into the match too heavy and never found his rhythm.
“He was waiting. He was second-guessing things. He was questioning things. And that’s one of the worst things to do in a match,” Jones said. As for Gane, Jones was careful to frame his admiration without arrogance. “I don’t want to sound arrogant, but I feel like you shouldn’t hang your hat for losing to me. Losing to me doesn’t mean that you’re going to be losing or that you’re a bad athlete.”
Jones said he always believed in what Gane was capable of, having studied him extensively before their own bout.
