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What's the story?
Earlier this week, stories began to circulate around the mainstream media that controversial UFC Light-Heavyweight champion Jon Jones had been charged with an alleged assault incident involving a waitress at a strip club.
Although Jones categorically denies the incident, UFC President, Dana White, still took a moment to comment on the accusation, and it is fair to say he was less than impressed with this latest incident involving Jones and the law.
In case you didn’t know...
While Jones’ legacy in mixed martial arts is undeniable, the New Yorker has a long list of demeanour's outside the cage which are hard to ignore.
The UFC have been forced to strip Jones of his Light-Heavyweight championship three times due to multiple failed drugs tests as well as hit and run incident in 2015.
The heart of the matter
The athletic brilliance of Jones combined with his questionable decision making outside of the sport, really force Dana White and the bosses at the UFC in a nearly impossible situation.
While it may seem like an easy decision to cut all ties with such a loose cannon and distance the UFC brand from any further troubles he may have, White has a business to run, and the Jones’ ability to sell pay-per-views currently plays a vital role in the UFC’s business model.
During a media scrum at the UFC 240 media day, White had this to say: [H/T MMAFighting.com]
“I haven’t talked to him, but my guys have. Listen, there’s two sides to every story and the truth is somewhere in the middle I’m sure, so I don’t know. I’m numb to this sh*t now. It doesn’t faze me any more. Every time we do a fight with Jon, I’m wondering if it’s going to be his last.”
White had this to say about the difficulties he faces in managing Jon Jones:
I don’t ever worry about what’s going to happen inside the octagon with Jon Jones. He’s the best. But if you look at the lifestyle he’s lived the last seven, eight years of his life, and what he comes in the octagon and does. He just fought Thiago - who’s a f*cking animal and wants everything Jon Jones has, stood in there and I don’t know if I’ve ever heard of more damage to one knee in my life, fought and was still kicking with the leg - and Jon Jones beat him. When you think about it, it’s unbelievable how good Jon Jones really is. But the minute he steps out of the octagon, you never know what’s going to happen. He’s in trouble. He’s in trouble right now. Every time he steps out of the octagon, what’s going to happen? What’s going to happen?”
What’s next?
As Dana mentioned in his comments, there are two sides to every story, and Jones denies these claims vehemently.
However, if there does turn out to be truth behind the allegations, there is a very real possibility that White’s patience with the mercurial Jones may finally be about to run out.
