Issue 177

April 2019

Jon Jones is finally on the comeback trail, but can he fulfill his destiny to be a true great of the sport? Certainly the UFC need him to be a leading light and are going to extraordinary lengths – including the use of former owner Lorenzo Fertitta’s private jet – to get the fighter back in the fray. But can Jones stay on track and live up to his potential and defeat Daniel Cormier at heavyweight? Fighters Only gains exclusive access to his team, who maintain, “Nobody beats Jon Jones. Only himself.”

Late in December 2018, when the UFC had heard from the Nevada State Athletic Commission that they could not grant a license for Jones to fight Alexander Gustafsson, Lorenzo Fertitta’s private jet flew Jon Jones for testing at a laboratory which was kept open over Christmas. It was to fulfill the wishes of the California Commission in order for the fighter to be licensed there. We know what happened next: the tests were satisfactory in the view of sports scientists and Andy Foster, head of the CSAC, and licensed in the next state, the event was moved – lock stock and smoking media barrels – to Los Angeles. Jones was imperious in defeating the Swede, who had given him a nightmare in their first contest in 2013. Jones was nothing short of magnificent in regaining the UFC’s 205-pound belt. 

As UFC president Dana White has told Fighters Only, one of his greatest disappointments in his time with the UFC, is what Jon Jones ‘coulda, woulda, shoulda been’. It seems that a door has been opened to rectify that. To some, the last three years will always taint the ‘Jones Legacy’, but it is time for a shift from this great exponent of fight sports.     

Back on track, Jones can become the legend his sublime skills have always promised after three and a half years that have been a wilderness compared to the wrecking ball he was from 2011 to 2015. Time has been lost, and the fans have missed out on so much. 

The UFC light heavyweight champion cannot make the journey alone. After a troubled period in his career, a 15-month suspension and a period when picograms dominated the news rounds, Jones was free to fight again, cleared by drug testing scientists. Jones was exonerated in large part because of the testimony of Dr. Daniel Eichner, the executive director of the WADA-accredited Sports Medicine Research & Testing Laboratory in Salt Lake City, Utah. As part of the deal to get the one-fight license, Jones again agreed to more enhanced testing. He will be tested at least twice in the 40 days leading up to the fight. The issue was a series of adverse findings for M3, the long-term metabolite of the banned anabolic steroid oral turinabol on anti-doping tests he submitted. Eichner and Dr. Matthew Fedoruk, the science director of USADA, described the positive tests as “a pulsing effect,” that appears randomly in an anti-doping test but which is not evidence of recent usage.

As Jones stated in January, after that Nevada hearing that cleared him to fight Anthony Smith on March 2, “It’s difficult to express myself at this moment but I can definitely say my heart is filled with gratitude and appreciation. I want to thank all of you who have stood by me during the toughest stretch of my life. Now is the time to shift the focus front and center to the road ahead. Greatness is what I’m chasing and the path to reclaiming my throne is now officially open. Comeback Season begins now.”

Well, ‘comeback season’ is being guided not just by the UFC, but by his coaching staff. Fighters Only met up with the triumvirate of coaches guiding Jones towards that destiny: Career-long coaches Greg Jackson, Mike Winkeljohn, and Brandon Gibson who are guiding the 31-year-old fighter in a bid to be the best of the best.  

There was a sigh of relief in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on January 29 with the evidence of Dr Eichner in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Jones is now free to achieve his ambitions. 

Jackson told Fighters Only just hours after the Nevada hearings: “I’m glad that he’s in good spirits and things are going well.” The analogy he makes here is Jones as the Roman Empire. 

“Jon hasn’t fought a lot, not in the last few years. One of things that made the Romans a great empire was they fought every season. Every season that came around, the Romans were going to battle. They got really good at fighting. I think Jon’s already a genius at fighting. I think if he fights more and more he’ll get that imperial feedback and can see where he can improve. You haven’t seen the best of him yet. He’s already doing amazing things, but there is still a lot of potential. As long as he’s focused and there are challenges ahead of him, he can reach his full potential. He hasn’t reached that yet. He’s on his way to doing that.”

I suggest to Jackson that it is every culture they fought too, and there is that feel about Jones. “The Romans fought every culture in every style. Every season not everyone was going to battle, except the Romans. I’m talking early on when Rome was a city state. After the Gauls sacked them and they paid them off, that was the turning point. That feedback made them strong and they learned. I think Jon can do that now by fighting three or four times a year. I think in three or four years, he’ll be able to ascend quickly.”

Staying active, says Jackson, will be key. When Jon’s in the gym on a consistent basis, staying focused, he gets better and better. Jon’s got a fire in him to prove to those who don’t like him that he’s not going anywhere and he’s the best there is. Sooner or later people will figure out how good Jon is outside the cage as well as in it.”

Jackson refutes out of hand that Jones is a drugs cheat. “It was an accidental ingestion. It’s such an insignificant amount that it shouldn’t have any sort of outcome at all. Everyone is always going to look for a reason as to why he’s great, it can’t just be that he’s great. He has to live with that. Any mistakes he makes people are going to jump on.”

“If you look at it in the reality of all this, none of it really makes sense for him to be pathologically lying. His strength has never been being a super giant, fast guy. What he is, is consistent. He’s mentally consistent and he puts a variety of techniques together that nobody can deal with. Nobody gets in there and says ‘the strongest or the fastest man I ever fought was Jon Jones’. No one ever says that. He did have a party lifestyle for a while and that bit him in the ass. He had to pay a price for that. But everyone is going to look for a reason and I know full well that isn’t the reason.”

The equally experienced striking coach Mike Winkeljohn concurs: “Absolutely, I don’t believe he ever should have been suspended in the first place. It’s for just small, trace amounts that doesn’t give you any benefit. It was ridiculous. But anyway, I’m glad he’s back and Jon will show everybody who already thinks he’s the greatest why he is.”

Winkeljohn insists that Jones has taken little damage in a 25-fight, ten-year career at the highest level in MMA.

“He has not been hit that many times in his fights. A lot of that has to do with the way he fights. He’s very smart the way he fights and what he throws. He doesn’t get put in a position where he gets hit with combinations. He’s either hitting so far away and people can’t do much about it, or he’s already in the elbow range. So that’s helped preserve his career. It makes him win and he’ll continue to dominate that way in the future.”

“There’s many reasons why Alex [Gustafsson] caught him off guard in their first fight. It was a great fight and styles make fights. But Jon sat down and looked at that fight with the whole team and figured out what he did wrong last time that made it such a close fight. Jon made the adjustments that were necessary and showed everybody he’s the king out there.”

“Muhammad Ali had those things that happened to him during his career that he came back from,” added Winkeljohn. “Jon is capable of much more than fighting. I do believe in my heart that Jon has learned so many things outside of the cage and in the cage that beyond fighting there’s a lot more things he can achieve and do. What a lot of people won’t know is Jon’s got a gigantic heart. He actually takes care of a lot of people. He’s made dumb decisions about himself, but he’s capable of doing some miraculous things for society after he finishes dominating the fighting world.”

Winkeljohn dismisses the idea that he’s a father figure to Jones. “I’m like an old uncle. It happens in a lot of sports, especially MMA, when you get to the top everybody comes out and wants to help, tell you you’re the greatest and give you things. I guess I’m one of the guys that tries to keep him rooted. Put him back in his sport and tell him he needs to understand what got him there. To stay on that path. I believe that’s worked, not just because of me but because of Jon. In his heart, nobody works harder than him in the gym. He works hard and late. You can see it in his fights.”

Jackson agrees that ‘schooling’ Jones is not viable, that the grown man has to ‘figure it out for himself’.

“That’s never been our dynamic. I’ve always treated him as a grown man. He has great parents. His mom passed but she was great. It was him getting used to the world and I could offer him advice here and there. But in the end he’s really got to figure it out for himself. That’s been a process of him figuring it out himself and going through all the fame and the craziness that comes from that. I think he has a very, very good heart. Eventually that’ll come through and the equilibrium will settle down. It’s a lot to ask of somebody when you have so many people fawning over you and you have money. It’s hard not to get caught up in that. I’m certainly not above it and I don’t think anyone is. I’ll ride with him, no matter what, as his family. I’m just glad to see him really focusing and really doing well.”

Brandon Gibson, who works with Jones on the pads, and has literally grown up with the fighter, yet has always exuded a wisdom from the sport, added: “I agree [he has a destiny to fulfill], he does. He owes it to himself and his fans and his team. I’m excited that now we have these opportunities to get back on course.”

“I think Jon fighting just once a year over the last five years is kind of an unfortunate loss to the fans and to Jon’s career and legacy,” explained Gibson, who agrees with Winkeljohn that Jones has taken little physical wear and tear. “But it’s up to us to look at this optimistically and see how little damage he’s taken in those fights and those training camps. He’s been able to grow as a martial artist – strategically and technically. And he’s more explosive as an athlete, more powerful and he’s taken better care of his body.

This inactivity over these past years is going to enhance and prolong his career.”

Looking back, Gibson reminded fans: “It was an incredible time capturing the title against Shogun [Rua] and the fights leading up to it. [Jon beat] Ryan Bader and we see how well Bader has evolved, that shows how far ahead of the curve Jon was. I think those were great times because Jon was able to capture a lot of confidence and harness greatness to achieve his dreams. I think the lay-off made him really hungry. I think we saw that in the lead-up to second Cormier fight and then the second Gustafsson fight. All of this made Jon appreciate the sport, the fans and his gifts even more.”

The triumvirate of coaches see Jones starting a third phase. 

“I think he’s starting that now. Early on it was a quick, hungry athlete,” explains Jackson. “Then it was his ability to develop and harness quickly high-level skills. This third phase I think is that he is becoming this master strategist. He is going to pick these guys apart, set traps and be five steps ahead of them. He’s become very patient and his eyes have become sharper in his ability to process data. Those are the factors that will really highlight this third phase. We saw it in the way he set up the knockout over Cormier. We saw it with the minimal damage he took against Gustafsson, and the patience he took to set up his takedowns until the finish. I think the quick turnaround with Anthony Smith, we’re going to see that again. Some of those young guys will be explosive and brings factors and traits that we respect but Jon’s ability to play this game tactically is an unmatched characteristic. I don’t see anyone in the light heavyweight division being able to compete with him on that level.”

So where do they see Jones on his legacy journey? 

“I think he’s already right there in the mix with the greatest of all time,” reasoned Winkeljohn. “With the likes of Demetrious Johnson, GSP, Fedor Emelianenko and Anderson Silva. In this phase of Jon’s career he will be able to separate himself from the pack. When it’s all said and done, I think he’ll be far and away the greatest. It’s our job to ensure there is no discussion or debate. We must capture all the records we want and put our stamp on this game for the ages.”

Then there is the Cormier trilogy fight. At heavyweight, of course. “I think the heavyweight fights will be there for him. I think it’s a matter of opportunity and the right matchups. I think his body and frame is suited very well for light heavyweight. I think going up to heavyweight, I think Jon can beat any of those guys. He just possesses so much skill and technique and his IQ. But, we’ll see.”

“Eventually becoming a double champion is one of his goals and aspirations. I would love to see him fight Cormier at heavyweight. We all would. I think as time moves on we’re going to continue to see intriguing challengers in both classes. Jon’s sparred with heavyweights his whole career. He’s done numerous rounds with Overeem, Arlovksi, Browne and Mir. All these outstanding heavyweights. We’re all very confident, it’s just a matter of opportunity.”

Cormier versus Jones, presumably, would be the perfect way to stamp his authority on the trilogy and the heavyweight division in the UFC. Gibson agrees. “Cormier has looked very sharp at heavyweight. He’s powerful, still very fast and shown good stamina. He’s probably having healthier camps and his body is recovering more. That would be the most powerful, strongest Cormier we’ve gone up against. But I just think Jon has his number. Two decisive victories over him already and those two being the only Cormier has ever had in his career, those factors weigh much more in his favor.”

Winkeljohn is utterly convinced Jones can replicate his skills at heavyweight. “Oh yeah, absolutely. It’s the intelligence and fighter IQ he has that sets him apart. I know Cormier might hit a lot harder at heavyweight and his conditioning might be better because there’s no weight cut, but Jon will do the same thing he did to him last time. He picks him apart. Coming up to heavyweight Jon’s power will be even greater. I believe at heavyweight Jon can dominate that division as well.”

Jackson sees the Cormier-Jones axis like the old rivalry between Ali and Joe Frazier. “Cormier is such a great challenge because he’s such a great fighter. It’s really like an Ali-Frazier thing. Having that dynamic is super important because without Cormier, Jon can never be the greatest. He can’t be the greatest beating people that other people have beat. He’s got to beat the guy that no one else can. And he’s got to do it consistently over and over again. Cormier is the best thing that’s ever happened to Jon because he is what allows Jon to be great. He’s already beat him twice. One was struck off but it’s contestable because it wouldn’t change the outcome of the fight. He has to fight someone as great as Cormier to go down as one of the greatest of all time and Jon will go down as the only guy to ever beat him. That’s huge. Without Cormier, Jon is going to be a great, great fighter but he wouldn’t be the best of all time. He needs Cormier to do that. I love Cormier to death, what a great dude he is and a great fighter. I really want Jon to compete against him as much as possible to show the world how great he is.”

For now though, it about “keeping this ship focused,” adds Gibson. “No one is complacent with the win over Gustafsson. We’re hungry and motivated and that’s why we took such a quick turnaround fight. We’re ready to make a next statement to continue the legacy of Jon Jones.”

And on that, Jackson “would be very surprised if Jones does not fulfil his destiny”. 

“It’s almost like it’s pulling him towards that. He messes up, but he’s always pulled back to it like a magnetic force. Whatever’s in his personality, it pulls him back to his greatness and finding a way to get back there,” he explained. Perhaps coach Winkeljohn puts it best.  

“Jon has these hiccups on the road with things outside the cage. In fights, Jon knows what people are going to do before they do it. His future is very, very bright. Nobody beats Jon Jones, only himself.” 

Powerful, perfect, poignant. It is time for Jones to buckle up, focus on fights first and fulfill his true legacy, and his destiny.