What does Jones for you that you try to defend him so much? I am just curious.
Because he is just such a legend in MMA... He’s been unbeaten since the start, became the youngest champion ever, and went through multiple generations of fighters, always coming out on top. I used to root against him—wanted Anderson Silva to beat him when that super fight was teased—but even then, I kinda feared that the fight would happen since Jon Jones seemed just a pretty talented kid that had an unstoppable aura. And Jon Jones never pushed for that fight, despite the UFC wanting to make it. He respected Anderson Silva, so to him it was like, "if Anderson Silva wants to, but only if he wants, he is a legend too".
Over time, I started to appreciate his mentality. He dealt with insane pressure, criticism, and real-life controversies, yet still performed at the highest level. He didn’t just want to win but to dominate. Even when he beat the third generation, all younger fighters who were either on a streak or undefeated, like Smith, Santos, and Reyes, you could tell he wasn’t satisfied unless it was decisive. He defeated Reyes fair and square, but not being happy still, to me says a lot about how much he demands of himself.
He stayed out for 3 years, but he trained, studied every card, adapted his game to the new generation. Then he beat another younger, talented up and comer, Gane, in 2 minutes, which seemed to blow any expectations considering he was needing to dig deep and push himself with those type of up and comers 3 years ago... proving he’d evolved again in three years out of the octagon, which seemed just like unreal, like... No one expects a second wind of prime, but JJ seems to challenge logic. He’s not just fighting for paychecks or fan approval. He fights when he knows he’s ready to win, when he’s studied every angle. That’s what makes him different and more compelling to me, he treats MMA like chess, not just a brawl. And he doesn't hide that he fears, that he has anxiety issues before every fight... But the way he turns that fear into an elite performance every time, just tells me he's a different kind of animal in his mentality...
He could’ve retired after Reyes and he would still have been the GOAT. But he keeps going, studying, competing, pushing himself... partially I think because he needs that goal, that challenge, otherwise he feels kinda miserable it seems, which can be definitely bad... but overall, I just admire how obsessive and strategic he is. I want to see him retire unbeaten, because no one has done what he’s done in this sport.
