Jon Jones, Disgraced Former UFC Champ, Makes Another Startling Revelation
Jon Jones has been through a lot in his fighting career. Just last month, for example, he was stripped of his light heavyweight belt for the second time – becoming the first UFC fighter to have suffered the fate twice in the process – after he tested positive for a banned substance heading into UFC 200. Prior to that, he once tested positive for cocaine and was involved in a hit-and-run accident to which he pleaded guilty.
Remember, this is all for someone who many believe is the most talented mixed martial arts fighter to ever step into the Octagon with a 22-1 career record despite never having reached his full potential.
Then there’s the fact that Jones used to get blackout drunk in the lead-up to his fights. While on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast on Thursday, Jones talked about his tendency to party one week before every fight. According to Jones, it was a “mental crutch” that helped him deal with the possibility of losing knowing he wasn’t at full strength.
“I literally would, one week before every fight,” Jones said. “I would go out and I would get blacked out wasted. And my logic was, if this guy were to beat me somehow, I can look myself in the mirror and say, the reason I lost is because I got hammered the week before the fight.”
Jones also admitted he felt “invincible” heading into his fight against Alexander Gustafsson over the light heavyweight title at UFC 165. In his words: “I did a lot of wild stuff leading up to the fight. I definitely didn’t give it my all. Really partying, drinking, staying up all night.”
Recognizing his relationship with alcohol was never healthy, Jones mentioned on Twitter last month that he has been sober for 15 months. With his eyes now set on the heavyweight title, let’s hope this means he’s at full strength the next time we see him fight.