Combat sports are not a game. And fighters aren’t your high school clout machines or big men and women on any given college campus. They are more made up of your nerds, burnouts, and ‘demo’ students. Fighters are a different type of talent pool entirely. Fighters are noble yet still willing to hurt people. Many are impulsive, reckless, and never think about the consequences of risky behavior. Jon Jones embodies every part of a fighter except the nerd.
Jon Jones’ Brand Inflictions
While many fighters have been known to be wild, Jon Jones’ transgressions hurt him more than most other greats. Jones has Tyson-level setups, but Tyson embraced his image. Jones’ brand was that of a God-fearing philanthropist. He was a lot like LeBron is now: secretly egotistical with an overbearing need and the power to control how people see them in terms of their competition.
They control their public image as a humble and God-fearing guy. Both brush off their controversial interactions as “misunderstandings” literally every time. Moreover, as soon as they hit the big leagues, they were the most dominant and skilled at the youngest ages the sport had ever seen.
In 2011, Jon was seen as the good Christian boy who loved his family and had K-Swiss fundraisers for charity. His late mother was a philanthropist and his father a preacher. Imagine how badly Jon’s brand was damaged when Jon hit that pregnant lady with his car.
To be fair, it was a three-car crash that happened to involve a pregnant woman who was driving. Jon subsequently fled the scene.
A Jon Jones Beef is Forever
Stirred up by his internal struggle between being a nice, Christian boy or feral, alpha King-of-the-Jungle were several ugly beefs between Jon and Rashad Evans, Chael Sonnen, and Daniel Cormier. Unsavory does not even begin to explain the insults Jones and Cormier have and continue to exchange.
However, compared to Jones’ current friction with Adesanya, they are starting to look more and more pedestrian. This is a comment made just last week, from beef that started six years ago.
And then there’s this, always makes a great closing argument. Don’t talk shit and I won’t have to be so mean. Poke the lion and I may just hurt your feelings 🤷🏾♂️ I’m here all day ladies and gentlemen https://t.co/335OFeyhIQ
— BONY (@JonnyBones) November 17, 2020
Doubling Down After a Fall From Grace
For the record, August 4th is a personal holiday for me because of this very clip recorded on a hot mic on ESPN.
In Jon’s post-fight interview after UFC 182, he had this to say about Cormier: “I don’t like Daniel Cormier. I don’t respect Daniel Cormier. I hope he’s somewhere crying right now. I’m sure he is…” While in other sports, this is seen as a huge no-no, there is something novel about the viciousness of kicking a guy while he’s down.
Then, a video surfaced of Daniel Cormier sobbing backstage after that very loss. And when the two were scheduled to rematch, take a wild guess at what Jon Jones told Cormier at the UFC 214 pre-fight press conference. “You were crying on Cain Velasquez’ shoulder. I don’t wanna be a commentator; I just wanna make you cry backstage again.”
The rest of their beef honestly needs no commentary. Just look at this.
He won't. He doesn't have that ability. He never has. Even when he juiced his way to deadlifting 600lbs he couldn't KO Ovince https://t.co/wEXoAoDtEJ
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) April 13, 2017
I don’t have a platform DC? That just sounds dumb. Even after years of suspension I have just as much if not more of a platform than you. Every win you get goes on my resume, You know who you dream about at night. I’m sure your wife knows too
— BONY (@JonnyBones) June 25, 2018
Willing to train OSP and is willing to pay for his expenses? You are a sheep in wolves clothing and I see right through you. pussy.
— BONY (@JonnyBones) April 4, 2016
During this exchange on April 4th, 2016, Daniel Cormier also told Jones, “Just don’t get your dumb ass arrested again. Loser junkie.”
Look at this…
Coward is running from the scene of a crime without checking on person you hurt. Coward is refusing to fight Gustafson. Coward is ufc 151
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) April 4, 2016
Lol we? 😂 who's we? You and your vagina? https://t.co/HfgmiSCrjG
— BONY (@JonnyBones) April 5, 2016
Usually, as athletes get broken in by a long career of ups and downs, their venom becomes diluted by humility. Jon Jones, however, is not at that point in his life.
Adesanya Jones Beef
Lol I formally release DC as being my pussy, Izzy now takes the throne https://t.co/3pKJSFLKNN
— BONY (@JonnyBones) October 16, 2019
Adesanya’s Emerging Mean Streak
Israel Adesanya, however – or Izzy –is establishing himself as MMA’s surging pound-for-pound martial artist as well as an elite troll. In Adesanya’s last fight, his opponent talked a lot of trash in the pre-fight promotion. Adesanya never forgot a single word, and he is 50 Cent levels of petty.
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For those unfamiliar with combat sports, dancing after KO’ing someone is like hitting a game-winner then making out with one of the rival team’s cheerleaders at midcourt. For you football fans, it’s like winning by 40 then beating up the other team’s mascot. It’s reprehensible.
Can you tell he got bullied in high school? What kid that got treated with dignity and respect would do something like this?
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On the other hand, Izzy’s opponent Paulo Costa looks like the exact kind of kid who had an easy go as an up-and-coming youth. I mean, look at this body; talk about a piece of meat. All of Izzy’s championship opponents’ physiques scream “bully jock,” so his entire title run has looked like “Revenge of the Nerds – The Sequel.”
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Twitter Fingers and Bad Blood
The darkness of a championship fighter’s soul is something unmatched in sports. It’s only fitting that their beefs can be all types of “yikes” to the socially aware. While this back and forth between Adesanya and Jones is entertaining, I would prefer it to be contained to a scheduled bout. But what makes it so compelling is that these two are arguably the greatest we have ever seen.
So to get ahead of all the bullshit coming. My statement below.
Lol if Jones has this much knowledge about the fight game and fame game he woulda known not to run back to the car to get the money and coke. Dumbass. pic.twitter.com/pJnNTGqsNV— Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) October 1, 2020
It’s all good, that must be some New Zealand shit. Bring mention to a mans dead mother, but refuses to fight. That’s the most sus move he’s made so far https://t.co/XkMzNkckV8
— BONY (@JonnyBones) October 2, 2020
Sitting with tens of millions of dollars, children on fire about Jesus Christ, one of the greatest martial artist and world history. Sure my mom is disappointed 😂🤷🏾♂️ why you mad bro?
— BONY (@JonnyBones) October 1, 2020
Jonathan is my biggest fan.
He’s also a bigger bitch than my bitch tit!
I’d rawdog him but I don’t fuck 3’s and under.
If Jon stepped into a church he would spontaneously combust.
I got more in the clip…y’all keep going in the comments. https://t.co/rOBGahmlHb— Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) October 2, 2020
Both fighters are undefeated and were overwhelming talents as soon as they arrived in the UFC. The problem with that is, just one loss after long undefeated streaks can severely diminish most fighters’ confidence and killer instinct.
Whether it’s a bloody war, a technical chess match, or a swift victory, there will also be a heavy price emotionally from all of this trash talk. As a fan of both fighters, the thought of it is exhilarating.
On the other hand, I am already saddened that one of these greats will never be the same again.
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