“I know how much I don’t know, and it gives me power.”
Jon Jones is on the publicity trail for UFC 200 and he has been discussing his legacy in the fight game.
‘Bones’ will take on UFC Light Heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier in 200’s main event and will hope to unify his interim strap with the one he was forced to hand back after his arrest for a hit-and-run.
Jones is undefeated in the octagon with the only loss on his record due to a disqualification in a fight he was bossing.
While he was away, Jones had is pound-for-pound status eclipsed by Ronda Rousey and threatened by Conor McGregor. Both fighters have suffered their first UFC losses in the past year and Jones was asked to expand on why no-one has bested him in his career. His response was kind to neither fighter:
“I know that I can be beat. I think that’s why I haven’t been beat. Some of these guys really believe their hype.”
“Ronda Rousey, they said she could never be beat. Best athlete of all time. I was happy for her, to hear those sort of accolades, but once I realised that maybe she was starting to believe it herself. I knew she was in a dangerous spot.
“Conor McGregor saying stuff about being the baddest dude and ‘I’ll beat anybody at any weight class’, that’s foolish stuff, you know.
“When you believe the hype to that level, that’s when you are in danger.”
Bones certainly making no bones about it.
Did Ronda Rousey and Conor McGregor believe their hype too much? Jon Jones gives his take.https://t.co/OwzasJvtpr
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) June 29, 2016
Jones then appeared on FOX Sports Live and was asked about the, somewhat sketchy, rumours that McGregor would be looking for a pay-off from the UFC if its expected, $4bn plus sale went ahead.
He commented, “I don’t agree with that. The UFC has created Conor McGregor and I think sometimes he forgets that.”
“The UFC has created Conor McGregor and I think sometimes he forgets that.” – Jon Jones tonight, 11:30 et on @FS1https://t.co/XgdfguZTSS
— FSLive: #JayAndDan (@foxsportslive) June 30, 2016
In fairness to Jones, he is not raising these points himself.
Still, he is getting asked about McGregor and not holding back. Strong words about the Dubliner considering he was one of the first to reach out to him after his troubles with the law in 2015.
