Jon Jones is the greatest light heavyweight of all time. At only 27 years old some would argue, myself included, that he is the greatest mixed martial artist to ever compete.
Jones the athlete is an exemplary exhibit of a modern fighter, highly skilled in all areas and extremely gifted. As a celebrity, he is an exemplary exhibit of a basket case.
Jon Jones has a lot of detractors and has had many issues with public perception since becoming the youngest ever champion in 2011. I am not a detractor, actually I am a huge fan. I enjoy the spectacle that is Jones, his fights are beautifully entertaining and his aura is polarising.
The Albuquerque Police Department has issued a felony arrest warrant for Jones, however, following a reported hit-and-run accident involving three cars and he has since turned himself in to custody.
The collision, which took place at an intersection in Albuquerque on Sunday, left a pregnant woman with a broken arm. The alleged actions of Jones, including fleeing the scene with large amounts of cash and possessing drugs in the car are dumbfounding.
This is not Jones’ first altercation with illicit activities and the law. Recently he tested positive for cocaine metabolites in the lead up to his fight with Daniel Cormier and entered a rehab facility for just one day. In 2012, Jones was arrested in his home state of New York after crashing his Bentley and being charged with DUI. He received a $1000 fine and a suspended license.
With his image not yet recovered from his failed drug test for cocaine, Jones has truly outdone himself. Joe Rogan often remarks that fighters such as Jones improve each time we see them in the octagon, yet Jones seems to outperform himself with each controversy he is a part of.
While he has been treated leniently because of his stature as champion and face of the UFC, this treatment surely has limits. Jones can no longer be allowed to abuse his status as a champion.
Kenny Florian has declared his support for the removal of Jones as champion.
“I think stripping him of the title is appropriate if, of course, these allegations are true… You screw up, there’s repercussions and a possible fine,” Florian said.
Even if the allegations turn out to be embellished, the sport of mixed martial arts has again been brought into disrepute because of the irresponsibility of the pound for pound champion. It is true that villains in sport are a good and attractive sell to audiences but there is a point where even the most devout fans begin to question their admiration.
This will not be the end of Jones as an elite level athlete, but for now he cannot be allowed to continue his behaviour and tarnish himself and the sport.
Strip him of the title and suspend him from all competition for a substantial period while he attends and undergoes rehabilitation. The legitimacy of the new champion will surely be called into question and while the UFC will be hesitant to axe one of their largest pay-per-view draws, imagine the hype and scope of a Jones comeback event?
Real and harsh action gives Jones a chance, an opportunity for future generations to remember the Jon Jones that was before and the Jon Jones he became when faced with true adversity.
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