In an interview with Ring Magazine, MMA legend Jon Jones took aim at the dominance of the UFC and major boxing promotions, arguing that their control over the combat sports landscape has left fans with limited choices and athletes with fewer opportunities.
“Boxing has been around for over 100 years. MMA has been around for a very long time, about 30, 40 years now,” Jones said. “Figh ting’s more popular right now than ever and, you know, some of these belts in boxing and the UFC they kind of have sports in a chokehold, you know, that you’re kind of forced to see the same names, the same promotion.”
Jones, who has expanded his footprint in combat sports as the owner of Dirty Boxing Championship and as an official ambassador for IBA bare-knuckle boxing, believes the current moment represents a turning point for the industry. He pointed to a growing wave of new promotions and emerging talent as evidence that the dominance of a select few organizations is being challenged.
“I feel like there’s an explosion of promoters and new talent,” Jones said. He drew a comparison to college and professional sports, suggesting that fans are drawn to the raw hunger of athletes competing for their futures.
“People say like, you know, you got the NFL, you got the NBA, and then you got college ball,” he continued. “A lot of people are bigger fans of college ball than they are the pros because of the passion. You know, when you’re seeing young men who absolutely have to win. You know, their family’s counting on it. You just see a different level of passion.”
Jones pointed to bare-knuckle boxing as a prime example of how new promotions are offering both athletes and fans something different. He described the appeal of seeing competitors who are looking for a second chance or who are just starting out and are driven by sheer necessity.
“You’re seeing guys who are looking for their second chance,” he noted. “Maybe they couldn’t cut it in the UFC or you can find guys who are just now starting out and they’re in that position where they have no choice. They have to make it. There’s just a passion that I feel is unmatched.”
The former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion encouraged fans to look beyond the promotions they have traditionally followed.
“I give some of these new athletes a chance. I mean, obviously, I’m a UFC figh ter through and through. But there’s so many more things going on out there and I just encourage you guys to go and dip and dab in all the different promotions. There’s so many thousands of athletes who need your support,” he said.
Jones also spoke directly to aspiring figh ters who may feel shut out by the rigid hierarchies of the sport’s biggest organizations.
He stated, “You don’t have to be the cream of the crop anymore to have a successful career. Get out there, give yourself a chance, and have fun. It’s a great time for it.”
His comments come at a time when the combat sports world is witnessing a surge of alternative platforms. Beyond bare-knuckle boxing, promotions like Dirty Boxing Championship are carving out space by offering hybrid formats that appeal to audiences who want something faster-paced and more accessible than traditional MMA or boxing.
