I woke up early today; somewhere around 5 and started reading the same 3 websites that I check everyday. Then, through a Facebook friends’ hearsay, I read about the current Jon Jones predicament.
I of course didn’t want to write anything on it because, I for and fact and I hope those who run mmanytt.se as well, are above childish gossip. I will continue to ask and write about the trauma both physical and mental of being a fighter instead of, what’s your favorite hamburger or when that one guy said that one thing about that other guy, what do you have to say to that. To me, that’s petty gossip and should left alone and covered by people without the ability to construct a solid paragraph of original thought. We are above that. But, here I am now and I am in fact writing not on the gossip, but on an issue that still hasn’t been resolved since 5am.
I won’t speculate if the champ was on boogie sugar or what happened or even if was driving or in the car, but I will write facts, which are, Jon Jones is being sought for question by the Albuquerque, New Mexico Police Department at this moment for issue’s related to a hit and run. NOT THAT HE WAS IN THE HIT IN RUN, But that he is being sought in relation to that hit and run, whether directly or indirectly involved, they are seeking him for question. I can also say, as a fact, that Jon Jones is a very famous and is not a person that is capable of completely disappearing and being who he is, is a very easy to find individual, and currently, he is no where to be found.
None of this looks good for the Champ, as unless he can create a reliable alibi of his where about and why he couldn’t be reached in the millions of ways to reach a person. Eve if involved, would he still fight even if caught and is clean? Yes. A mechanic who gets a hit and run or drinking and driving charge still shows up on Monday to be a mechanic. If Jones is clean and this all happened, he should still fight, it’s his lively hood. This also isn’t the first time the UFC had to deal with such a problem, after Rampage lost his belt, God talked to him and he ran got into a high speed chase hitting a bunch of cars and was tackled by police in the street.
Now is the part where I speculate my own opinion in the hopes that maybe other people say, okay, maybe and look at if differently. Jon Jones is no longer a fighter. Being a fighter is easy, you train and then you show up and fight. Not only is Jon Jones a fighter he is also considered by some the greatest mixed martial artist to have ever lived. That, in your mind can go one of two ways. It will make you walk around like a God and have people throw rose pedals at your feet or it will make you terrified to lose. (Or, it’ll make you Fedor, who because of his being Russian didn’t seem to care so he handled fame differently) The will to win becomes heightened and the obligation to win is worse. Jon Jones in the cage by all accounts is fighting by himself and for himself.
But there is more than that; Jon Jones has his team to fight for, his family, his fans, the people who want him to win and those who want him to lose. He has a legacy to fight for, a company, a sponsorship, a paycheck and so on. It was much easier for Jon Jones when it was just he. Now it’s him and a world that is either for or against him. That breaks people. That beats on you more than any fighter ever can and it will keep you up at night. Not being able to get a breakfast with your family because people want pictures and autographs, not being able to pump your own gas because people want face off photo with you. Not being able to Christmas shop.
The world of fame is not what people think it is, and it’s very lonely and even though so many people surround you, you feel isolated. The pressure of cracked how many actors and fighters, writers and artist? The fact that so much money, hundreds of millions of dollars revolves around you showing up at one specific time on one specific date and performing one specific way is maddening. So, to do all of those things you want to be healthy and well rested. But when you’re a fighter, you can’t be that. You are starving and beaten on. You have to train as hard as you can but also while training you have to live in bubble wrap to avoid any injury that would pull you from the fight. You stub your toe you might panic. It is honestly what makes people change so much and so often go a little over the edge.
We can only hope that the woman in the accident is well. That Jon Jones is well and whether the fight goes on or not this all gets solved in the safest and most efficient manner possible.
