New Rolling Stone interview w/ Jon Jones

[Wild]

In the aftermath of the hit-and-run, Jones was depressed and ready to leave his career behind. But, as he waited for his court date to arrive, he says he realized his actions affected those around him. That's when he felt he needed to truly address them.

"One of the moments that really messed me up was when my daughter came home from school and said, 'Mommy, such-and-such said daddy killed a baby,'" he says, sitting up from the couch and firming his posture for the first time since our conversation began. "That was one of those moments where I felt so bad. Like, 'Man, I'm fucking up, and now I'm dragging my family into this.' My fiancée didn't sign up for me getting in trouble and having to explain to our kids that their dad got into a car accident. My family didn't sign up for this shit."

Jones says he believes his court-mandated public speaking has also helped reinforce and maintain his sobriety. For years, he hid the qualities he thought would turn others off. Now, he finds opening up about his struggles with drugs and alcohol to be therapeutic. And he's adamant that he'll continue his community work now that he's fulfilled the court's requirements.

"This may sound weird, but I believe that God meant for what happened to happen," he says. "I know a lot of people may twist this or look at it like, 'Why would God put this girl in a car accident with you? That's a selfish way of thinking.' But since that happened, so much good has happened in a lot of people's lives. I've been able to reach thousands of kids.

"I've told my story 72 times to completely different groups, to complete strangers. There's something really freeing about being so real, open and candid with complete strangers and letting them judge you," he continues. "It's helped me know who I am. It's helped me acknowledge the piece-of-shit qualities I had. Truth of the matter, I had some piece-of-shit ways. Still do have some. But at the same time, I have some really great qualities as well."

Read more: Jon Jones vs. Jon Jones: UFC Star On His Greatest Opponent – Himself
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Read more: Jon Jones vs. Jon Jones: UFC Star On His Greatest Opponent – Himself

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Really long article and very well done. I encourage everyone to check it out in it's entirety.

 

[TheFifthScallop]

Didn't know Mick and company were conducting interviews now.


Edit: You should have left the original title @Wild

 

[soundoff71]

Cute. Either way, I don't believe for one second that he's changed, outside of what was mandated by the courts & Zuffa.

 

[Wild]

Cute. Either way, I don't believe for one second that he's changed, outside of what was mandated by the courts & Zuffa.

"I'm only at the doorstep of earning my second chance," he says. "Doing community service was court-ordered. That's not earning a second chance. Being sober when you're on probation isn't earning your second chance. I got a lot of proving to do. It's a matter of actions. It's about my effort. I feel like I have a lot more work to do. The people who still hate me, they have every right to."

He feels ya brother.

 

[Tom O'Bedlam]

Great piece. Good to see Jones being so candid.

 

[soundoff71]

"I'm only at the doorstep of earning my second chance," he says. "Doing community service was court-ordered. That's not earning a second chance. Being sober when you're on probation isn't earning your second chance. I got a lot of proving to do. It's a matter of actions. It's about my effort. I feel like I have a lot more work to do. The people who still hate me, they have every right to."

He feels ya brother.

Well, he's saying the right things, but there is no reason to believe him. Let's see if manages to stay away from stupid drug or car shit.

 

[Tom O'Bedlam]

Well, he's saying the right things, but there is no reason to believe him. Let's see if manages to stay away from stupid drug or car shit.

Faith is a reason to believe him.

 

[soundoff71]

Faith is a reason to believe him.

Faith? In what? Him? Jesus?

Fuck that shit.

 

[Priziesthorse]

I would follow Jon Jones into the mists of Avalon.

 

[Tom O'Bedlam]

Faith? In what? Him? Jesus?

Fuck that shit.

Faith that most people want to be good.

 

[soundoff71]

Faith that most people want to be good.

Most people? Possibly. Someone like Jones, who seems to be a narcissist & a sociopath? I doubt it.

Time will tell, but sorry if I don't believe any of the cute little words coming out of his mouth.

If he goes a year without hurting people in cars, or doing asshole drugs like coke, or just coming across as a transparent, corporate PR, court-mandated caricature of a decent human being, then maybe then I'll have some faith.

An uplifting redemption story does not Jon Jones make. Unless it's this guy:

 

[Tom O'Bedlam]

Most people? Possibly. Someone like Jones, who seems to be a narcissist & a sociopath? I doubt it.

Time will tell, but sorry if I don't believe any of the cute little words coming out of his mouth.

If he goes a year without hurting people in cars, or doing asshole drugs like coke, or just coming across as a transparent, corporate PR, court-mandated caricature of a decent human being, then maybe then I'll have some faith.

An uplifting redemption story does not Jon Jones make. Unless it's this guy:

Most people could be classified as narcissistic.

I choose to err on the idea that people make mistakes and for the most part want to change and be better.

I don't lose anything by having faith that Jon will stay out of jail, it costs me nothing.

 

[soundoff71]

Most people could be classified as narcissistic.

I choose to err on the idea that people make mistakes and for the most part want to change and be better.

I don't lose anything by having faith that Jon will stay out of jail, it costs me nothing.

Most people don't do hit & runs on pregnant women, & then leave the scene of the crime with their cash & stash.

You can choose to err however you like, regardless if their behavior says otherwise.

I choose to err on the side of common sense & predictable behavior, & it doesn't me cost a thing.

Sorry, but I don't believe in magical thinking, unicorns, or the Jon Jones redemption farce. And I lose nothing in the process.

 

[Tom O'Bedlam]

Most people don't do hit & runs on pregnant women, & then leave the scene of the crime with their cash & stash.

You can choose to err however you like, regardless if their behavior says otherwise.

I choose to err on the side of common sense & predictable behavior, & it doesn't me cost a thing.

Sorry, but I don't believe in magical thinking, unicorns, or the Jon Jones redemption farce. And I lose nothing in the process.

You've never done anything stupid or careless that endangered someone else?

Must be nice.

 

[Ted Williams' head]

"This may sound weird, but I believe that God meant for what happened to happen," he says. "I know a lot of people may twist this or look at it like, 'Why would God put this girl in a car accident with you? That's a selfish way of thinking.' But since that happened, so much good has happened in a lot of people's lives. I've been able to reach thousands of kids.

It doesn't sound weird, it sounds fucking retarded.

So god needed to kill a fetus to help kids out? Couldn't he have done it through other ways? He's fucking god, the creator of everything, and he needed your dumb ass to drunk drive and hit a pregnant woman?

 

[Ted Williams' head]

Most people don't do hit & runs on pregnant women, & then leave the scene of the crime with their cash & stash.

To be fair to Jones, he probably didn't know it was a pregnant lady he hit. He fucked up royal and tried to weasel his way out of it, we've all done this at some time (although most not to the extent of Jones).

 

[Atto]

People said he was fake before i say he is fake now. He is trying to put up an act and fool everybody.

 

[regular john]

So god needed to kill a fetus to help kids out?

kill a fetus????

as far as I know nothing happened with that lady's child. maybe getting hit by Jon Jones was one of the gratest things that ever happened in her life.

(...) he probably didn't know it was a pregnant lady he hit

I think it's fair to assume he didn't. but the fact that that lady was pregnant is always used to make it sound more dramatic. like it wouldn't be that bad if it wasn't a pregnant lady that he hit.

overall Jones is a knucklehead but IMO there's a lot more important stuff to focus than his road adventures and personal lifestyle if you're really worried about the safety of the world. I doubt any mma fan in the internet cares only a little bit about that lady. I know I don't.

 

[regular john]

"it don't matter if some fool say he different 'cause the only thing that make you different is what you really go through"


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DOy4hCih7w



what's fascinating to me is that being so immature is what makes Jones the greatest fighter IMO. he will chop your head off and throw it in the sewer and go brag about it to kis knucklehead friends.

like when Vitor had him in an armbar and he just wouldn't tap. Vitor hesitated a little bit and he got out. then when he had the americana on Vitor a little later, he cranked and would've teared that arm off without thinking about it.

 

[member 3289]

I like that he's being more natural and cursing a lot more. We saw in the "hey pussy are you still there?" thing that he's naturally a more foul-mouthed guy (like most younger guys when they're not on camera), so it's good to see him not really trying too hard to censor himself.

 

[Sweets]

I like that he's being more natural and cursing a lot more. We saw in the "hey pussy are you still there?" thing that he's naturally a more foul-mouthed guy (like most younger guys when they're not on camera), so it's good to see him not really trying too hard to censor himself.

I find you guys attitude to swearing adorable. But on point Jon should just say what he wants all the time it works for others.

 

[member 3289]

I find you guys attitude to swearing adorable. But on point Jon should just say what he wants all the time it works for others.

I would say most Americans are religious, so they do have a funny attitude towards swearing.

I have more of an educated/professional attitude towards it. At work or in professional situations, it is of course inappropriate and should be avoided, but outside of that it is fine.

 

[Sweets]

I would say most Americans are religious, so they do have a funny attitude towards swearing.

I have more of an educated/professional attitude towards it. At work or in professional situations, it is of course inappropriate and should be avoided, but outside of that it is fine.

Unless you work as an MMA fighter then it's all good in fact it's a selling point a frisson of bad boy if you will.

 

[member 3289]

Unless you work as an MMA fighter then it's all good in fact it's a selling point a frisson of bad boy if you will.

I wish I could swear at will and make more money for it. I'd call everyone I see a fat fucking cunt, regardless of their body type

 

[soundoff71]

You've never done anything stupid or careless that endangered someone else?

Must be nice.

I've engaged you repeatedly on this forum, which was stupid & endangered other's reason & common sense.

It must be nice to rely on unicorns & magical thinking to avoid personal responsibility & explain away bullshit.