The perceived devolution of Jon Jones.

[Darius0995]

The aura of invincibility that once encapsulated the success of Jon Jones has waned somewhat quite considerably; with only the actuality of his almost perfect record being his ‘redeemer’.

Regardless of their positive outcomes (officially), a shift in how we perceive an athlete’s capabilities is usually a great precursor for an established reality. Jon Jones’ most recent bouts have been far from all conquering, finding himself on the bittersweet end of favourable judging decisions whilst putting in performances that were objectively a far cry from the his past dominance.

Notwithstanding the obvious conclusions I.e age, abstained PED use. What are the more nuanced symptoms we can identify as to why Jones’ isn’t the same as once was?

Glaring for me, is his lack of evolution pertaining to his offensive stand-up. It’s always been a methodological approach, but has since become a solely mitigated, defensive philosophy with no new established techniques or method of attacks (ways of finding openings) added to his arsenal. He’s greatly devolved in this area whilst his contemporaries have innovated to some degree.

What is your opinion of this decline, what factors do you put it down towards, anything new from the more obvious reasonings?

 

[Carrotman23]

I think you hit the nail on the head with Jones continuing to improve his defense while not improving his striking . He's never had great boxing but as his offensive wrestling capabilities have seemingly diminished he hasn't filled in the gap with his striking . Perhaps his wrestling will come back at HW and his defense is still the best in the UFC imo but yes his ability to do damage on the feet hasnt gotten better in fact its seemingly diminished . Bones at HW is a huge "what if" cause of all this .

 

[Orochimaru 大蛇丸]

He's older and slower, that's it... this problem will only be exacerbated at HW now that he is working with Stan Efferding and trying to power lift his way into HW

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

Exaggerated by butthurt, coping haters.

 

[alex21cms]

he beat on feet they guy who tko ed the current champ who just beat who was percived by many to be the best current striker on the ufc roster on the feet and beat and take the sould of a former unbeaten figther in his worst nigth were as guys as gsp anderson or fedor got ko ed or submited in their worst nigths the aura is still burning hot

 

[Orochimaru 大蛇丸]

he beat on feet they guy who tko ed the current champ who just beat who was percived by many to be the best current striker on the ufc roster on the feet and beat and take the sould of a former unbeaten figther in his worst nigth were as guys as gsp anderson or fedor got ko ed or submited in their worst nigths the aura is still burning hot

The aura is still burning hot

 

[Darius0995]

he beat on feet they guy who tko ed the current champ who just beat who was percived by many to be the best current striker on the ufc roster on the feet and beat and take the sould of a former unbeaten figther in his worst nigth were as guys as gsp anderson or fedor got ko ed or submited in their worst nigths the aura is still burning hot

 

[TankAbbott4Eva]

I think you hit the nail on the head with Jones continuing to improve his defense while not improving his striking . He's never had great boxing but as his offensive wrestling capabilities have seemingly diminished he hasn't filled in the gap with his striking . Perhaps his wrestling will come back at HW and his defense is still the best in the UFC imo but yes his ability to do damage on the feet hasnt gotten better in fact its seemingly diminished . Bones at HW is a huge "what if" cause of all this .

I remember shitting bricks during the Gus fight because Jones slipped a few punches and seem to throw some decent ones as well, Jones with boxing skills is a scary prospect, I didn't recall seeing this in the fights subsequent though.

 

[Kvothe_the_kingkiller]

It's so hard to stay on top for 10 years, only several have ever done it. Or come close to doing it.

He could just be burned out.

 

[NoSmilez]

Watch his past few fights. He learned to add an offensive low left kick and a switch to mid or high. He no longer relies on the outstretched hand as a defense. He would move head along with that. His chicken wing block is almost religious with one arm. He also doesn't spam stomps to the knees. He is still improving but he isn't durable with his shins. He is always hurting his feet by the end of the fight. I really suspect he doesn't shoot because he tears his feet up kicking early. I really don't like him but I admit he is working on his craft.

 

[WildShrimper]

It's so hard to stay on top for 10 years, only several have ever done it. Or come close to doing it.

He could just be burned out.

Some people claim to burn out as soon as they even touch the gold. The long reigning champs are something else mentally.

 

[Herwald]

Getting older isn't helping you get better after a certain point, so I don't expect 2013 Jon Jones to ever be back, but still - I think he just mainly got bored. He was going out there just rising a smidge above the level of his competition, so there was a perceived closing in on him when, really, he was never gonna lose those fights (outside of a DQ, which I think that martyr glutton for punishment Ant Smith should've gone for).

He was there killing time, scoring points, meanwhile the opponents were fighting for their lives. Outside of the possibility of serving another suspension, I think he just got out realizing he was heading for bored Andy Silva territory.

If he comes back focused, I don't think he loses at LHW. But I feel like he could only come back motivated and focused if it was either against a super dangerous opponent at HW or for a whole lot of money. And, unfortunately, UFC won't pay him motivating amounts of dough and I don't think he can hang at HW. So I do feel like this kind of is it. Jones will come back and get beat or he will not come back. But not because he sucks now, but because he's just bored.

 

[TempleoftheDog]

There’s nothing perceived about it. Without peds the guy is not nearly the same. His last few fights have proved that. Even with the physical advantages he held over most of the LHW division. And that’s why he ducked Jan, and Ngannou. He knows he’d get creamed. He was praying for Lewis to beat Ngannou, but Gane screwed that plan up.

It’s funny. You know Jones was praying for Stipe, and then Lewis. Meanwhile Ngannou ducked Lewis.

 

[HP_Nut]

It's so hard to stay on top for 10 years, only several have ever done it. Or come close to doing it.

He could just be burned out.

About 10 yrs seems to be the timeline for a lot of GOATs (not all). Its not just about age (which Jones is relatively still not old) but the length of time competing matters. Jones has been at it a long time

 

[TempleoftheDog]

It's so hard to stay on top for 10 years, only several have ever done it. Or come close to doing it.

He could just be burned out.

Those other guys you speak of didn’t get the same vacations (suspensions) that Jones did, and fought regular schedules barring injury. Don’t try to pretend Jones fought 2 times every year since he became the champ originally.

 

[Darius0995]

Watch his past few fights. He learned to add an offensive low left kick and a switch to mid or high. He no longer relies on the outstretched hand as a defense. He would move head along with that. His chicken wing block is almost religious with one arm. He also doesn't spam stomps to the knees. He is still improving but he isn't durable with his shins. He is always hurting his feet by the end of the fight. I really suspect he doesn't shoot because he tears his feet up kicking early. I really don't like him but I admit he is working on his craft.

So you’re of the firm belief that his offensive stand-up has garnered layers of sophistication over the past few years? It’s hard to believe when his output is so limited.

 

[kalabula]

Exaggerated by butthurt, coping haters.

What’s exaggerated? The belief that Jon’s on the decline?

 

[felmmando]

Some people claim to burn out as soon as they even touch the gold.

What champion has claimed to be burnt out as soon as he was crowned?

 

[felmmando]

There’s nothing perceived about it. Without peds the guy is not nearly the same. His last few fights have proved that. Even with the physical advantages he held over most of the LHW division. And that’s why he ducked Jan, and Ngannou. He knows he’d get creamed. He was praying for Lewis to beat Ngannou, but Gane screwed that plan up.

It’s funny. You know Jones was praying for Stipe, and then Lewis. Meanwhile Ngannou ducked Lewis.

I agree with much of what you say, but why would Jones decline a fight with Stipe if he was praying for one?

 

[felmmando]

He was there killing time, scoring points, meanwhile the opponents were fighting for their lives...

If he comes back focused, I don't think he loses at LHW.

It is widely believed that he lost to the last two LHWs he fought, and they don't even seem to be in the top 3 of the division. You think that's just a result of Jones being bored? Nothing to do with restrictions on his chemical supplementation, etc.?