The UFC should cut Jon Jones...

[Ares Black]

No, but it might be that a division full of new contenders saw the return of hungry Jones.

I mean, maybe, but Jon Jones is now in his mid-thirties, has been in some wars, has many issues outside of the cage, and is no longer using PEDs(at least in theory).

I really don't think he's anywhere near the fighter he once was. He might win some fights at 205 or HW, but I really don't see him "steamrolling" both divisions. Prime, juiced up Jon Jones, sure. Middle-aged veteran Jon Jones, I don't see it.

 

[Ares Black]

There is no reason not to think that.

His last three fights?

 

[Bend NvR Break]

His last two fights?

49-46 win over Santos and the Reyes fight where he fought down to Reyes's level?

 

[Ares Black]

49-46 win over Santos and the Reyes fight where he fought down to Reyes's level?

He arguably lost both of those fights.

 

[Garnet_StrongerThanYou]

Seriously.

Historically he is not a top draw on PPV cards. Rousey, Lesnar, GSP and McGregor, Masvidal, the Diaz bros etc all have had higher draws from being on PPV events.

He hasn't fought in almost 2 years.

He's no wizard on the mic.. he usually comes off as a self entitled asshole except when he's faking contrition.

His last 3 fights have been a travesty.. A blatant illegal knee against Smith, almost losing to Reyes and Santos (both of whom have slid pretty bad since).

He's failed more drug tests than any other fighter currently on the roster.

And his personal life is a PR disaster.

The one thing he has is his W/L record and he's had exactly one recorded finish since 2013 (DC fight being overturned).

Why is the UFC hanging on to him? Let him go fight Brandon Vera again in One FC for a couple hundred grand. Or a million a year in the PFL or he can go beat all the washed up guys he already beat in Bellator.

He's in the top 3 highest paid athletes in the UFC currently and I don't see what value he brings any longer.

Thoughts?

he is the best fighter in the world:

 

[613]

Did you just say Nick is a bigger draw than Jones?

 

[Tentacle Grape]

Seriously.

Historically he is not a top draw on PPV cards. Rousey, Lesnar, GSP and McGregor, Masvidal, the Diaz bros etc all have had higher draws from being on PPV events.

He hasn't fought in almost 2 years.

He's no wizard on the mic.. he usually comes off as a self entitled asshole except when he's faking contrition.

His last 3 fights have been a travesty.. A blatant illegal knee against Smith, almost losing to Reyes and Santos (both of whom have slid pretty bad since).

He's failed more drug tests than any other fighter currently on the roster.

And his personal life is a PR disaster.

The one thing he has is his W/L record and he's had exactly one recorded finish since 2013 (DC fight being overturned).

Why is the UFC hanging on to him? Let him go fight Brandon Vera again in One FC for a couple hundred grand. Or a million a year in the PFL or he can go beat all the washed up guys he already beat in Bellator.

He's in the top 3 highest paid athletes in the UFC currently and I don't see what value he brings any longer.

Thoughts?

I think no seconds on dessert would be harsh enough.

 

[BForrester]

I'd rather see him do time behind bars.

 

[WHITEBELT JESUS]

I'd rather see him do time behind bars.

Wanna be his cell mate?

 

[BForrester]

Wanna be his cell mate?

I abide by the law.

 

[Sticko]

"hasn't fought in two years" is a dumb reason to cut a fighter

He only costs them money when he fights

If Jon ever actually moves to HW, it will be a massive fight, even if (as now seems likely) he gets smashed in the first round

 

[ultra321]

The UFC is not letting anyone go that will be a draw at any fight promotion not named UFC. It has noting to do personally with Jones... Don't let him fight and don't let him fight elsewhere... and I'm fine with that... Besides his felony behavior outside the cage, him and his "I deserve 50k to show has priced himself right out of a job... good, fuck him, all his problems he has brought on himself, let him wallow in them

 

[ferrisjso]

Jones is probably under contract by the UFC or something so he can't just free himself and head over to One.

But then USADA restrictions probably don't apply to fighters in that place so Jones going to have his hands full with fighters who show blatant disregard towards PEDs.

If he went to ONE it wouldn't matter cause the upper weight classes are so terrible. They are only a major org in smaller weight classes and financially speaking. It be a purely money move cause he'd have to move and the dropoff in competition would be extreme. Bellator there's lots of nice fights to make for Jones.

 

[chinarice]

Jones would steamroll through LHW again, if not HW

Pretty baseless claim. He's looked pretty meh in his last few fights.

 

[Argonaut]

Jon Jones is one of the top 5 draws in the UFC right now.

In the same boat as Ngannou, Usman, Gaethje, Adasanya, Poirier, Yan, Holloway, Volkanowski

The UFC cannot afford to let Jones go and literally 10x bellator viewership. The UFC would be Bankrupting themselves if they cut any of their top stars. That is why the rules are different for people like Conor and Jon vs people like Luis Pena.

 

[Captain Herb]

I want to see JJ fight at Heavyweight at least once.

What you want to happen and what is likely to happen--or not happen--are two very different things. He will never fight at HW, UFC knows this but why cut him? They own him for nothing at this point.

 

[fzoid4454]

Seriously.

Historically he is not a top draw on PPV cards. Rousey, Lesnar, GSP and McGregor, Masvidal, the Diaz bros etc all have had higher draws from being on PPV events.

He hasn't fought in almost 2 years.

He's no wizard on the mic.. he usually comes off as a self entitled asshole except when he's faking contrition.

His last 3 fights have been a travesty.. A blatant illegal knee against Smith, almost losing to Reyes and Santos (both of whom have slid pretty bad since).

He's failed more drug tests than any other fighter currently on the roster.

And his personal life is a PR disaster.

The one thing he has is his W/L record and he's had exactly one recorded finish since 2013 (DC fight being overturned).

Why is the UFC hanging on to him? Let him go fight Brandon Vera again in One FC for a couple hundred grand. Or a million a year in the PFL or he can go beat all the washed up guys he already beat in Bellator.

He's in the top 3 highest paid athletes in the UFC currently and I don't see what value he brings any longer.

Thoughts?

Does "failing more drug tests" mean actually failing tests (two failed tests), or the "pulsing results" that are not failures, but people act like they are?

 

[Argonaut]

To add on to my prior post, being a top draw and being the best fighter at LHW or HW are different.

I believe Jon is the biggest draw in both divisions but at HW i think he loses to Gane and Ngannou and maybe Volkov
At LHW I think he loses to Jiri, Rakic and Ankalaev for sure.

Jones is old and off the juice now. He is not the world beater he was in his earlier on gear days. Makes no difference when it comes to being a draw.

 

[tucan89]

Sherbro logic:

Jon Jones can get away with anything because he is a draw!

Jon Jones isn’t a draw only good for 500K buys max!

So which is it?

 

[fedoriswar37]

Hes still the best and they know it. They won't release him till theyre certain that he isnt.