The "I almost beat Jon Jones" curse

[Koro_11]

First you had Gustaffson, arguably still Jones' toughest fight to date. You had a feeling that Gus would kill anyone else, and probably dethrone Jones in a rematch. But then Gus manages to win just 3 of his next 8 fights, gets crushed by Jones in a rematch, and slowly flizzles out into retirement.

Then there's Thiago Santos, a lot of people had him winning the Jones fight, again arguably his toughest fight, etc. Thiago is now riding a 3 fight losing streak and possibly fighting for his job in his next fight.

And now it's Reyes, the most recent guy to take Jones to the brink, but doesn't get the judges decision. He then gets another chance at a title against a career journeyman and blows it getting knocked out. Now he's on the wrong end of one of the most memorable knockouts in UFC history, and on a 3 fight losing skid.

The curse is real.

 

[Orochimaru 大蛇丸]

You're onto something, they feel like they're champs by almost beating Jon, when really they just did well because Jon was just having a shitty performance due to being old, or off PEDs, or partying, or whatever the excuse is

 

[DivineMind]

First you had Gustaffson, arguably still Jones' toughest fight to date. You had a feeling that Gus would kill anyone else, and probably dethrone Jones in a rematch. But then Gus manages to win just 3 of his next 8 fights, gets crushed by Jones in a rematch, and slowly flizzles out into retirement.

Then there's Thiago Santos, a lot of people had him winning the Jones fight, again arguably his toughest fight, etc. Thiago is now riding a 3 fight losing streak and possibly fighting for his job in his next fight.

And now it's Reyes, the most recent guy to take Jones to the brink, but doesn't get the judges decision. He then gets another chance at a title against a career journeyman and blows it getting knocked out. Now he's on the wrong end of one of the most memorable knockouts in UFC history, and on a 3 fight losing skid.

The curse is real.

I think the better explanation is just that (almost) beating Jones at this stage in his career doesn't make you a top fighter.

 

[pick999]

Watch the first gus fight and jon won that comfortably.

 

[Arkham's Notorious Geyser]

It makes Reyes look like he caught lightning in a bottle in terms of his performance against Jones, but I think it's more or less that his style only works if you let him fight at range, and the opponent doesn't have the power to deter him or put him on notice.

Both Jan and Jiri didn't let him settle in and establish the pace, and control, and let it be known they're going to put heavy hands on him and pressure him out the gate. That seems to be his weakness. For all his counter striking ability, if the other guy has just as much power, he struggles because he doesn't fight well in the pocket as he does at kicking range where he can feel out his counters and cut his angles.

 

[GoGetSomeFansJon]

Almost as legit as the trash talking Jon before fighting your other opponent curse

 

[Koro_11]

I think the better explanation is just that (almost) beating Jones at this stage in his career doesn't make you a top fighter.

I’m pretty sure he was prime in the first Gus fight, yet he did even better in the most recent one.

 

[Luthien]

Jon **The Soul Snatcher** Jones

 

[WHITE ANDERSON]

tbh all of jon's opponents have been cursed EXCEPT glover

 

[Buckaroo]

 

[DivineMind]

I’m pretty sure he was prime in the first Gus fight, yet he did even better in the most recent one.

I'm moreso talking about Reyes and Thiago.

 

[Eiffel-sixtyFight]

Remember when people were suggesting Johnny Walker would be the one to dethrone Jones

 

[GoGetSomeFansJon]

tbh all of jon's opponents have been cursed EXCEPT glover

Glover didnt come close at all to beating Jon. That was one of Jons best performances and an underrated beat down for 5 rounds by Jon on a prime Glover.

 

[TGArthur]

This theory is online with the curse of the poster from @Peteyandjia

 

[christopher]

Watch the first gus fight and jon won that comfortably.

accept when history wrote down the winner It was Jon's name that got he victory... Alexander had to handle it as a loss.. tough to lose the title shot mentally.

 

[BowserJr]

Those 3 are great fighters but not world beaters

They all arguably beat Jones because their striking is as good or maybe slightly better than Jones and Jones didn't have a massive reach advantage

They lose to fighters lesser than Jones who have better striking or grappling than they do and they don't know how to use their reach advantage as well as Jones

Just goes to show Jones is a master at distancing, his striking technique is really not that great

 

[JonJonesNeedle]

Jones struggles against opponents with similar height and reach, especially when he is off the PEDS.

Poor DC is only like 5'10 max.

 

[Poser Caust]

because everyone who fights Jon jones sustain heavy damage to the knees often so much so that it is career changing.

half of these guys could be fighting with a glass eye

 

[evergreenrider]

3-2 Jones. He didn't all most beat anything, besides possible neck fractures tonight.

 

[Memeojima]

Or maybe Jones just isn't that good?