UFC veteran Matt Brown weighed in on the complex legacy of Jon Jones, suggesting that despite Jones` lengthy history of issues outside the cage, his professional accomplishments should be the sole focus when evaluating his career.
Jones` biography is marked by significant achievements in the UFC, positioning him as potentially the greatest fighter of all time. However, it is equally filled with accounts of legal troubles – from DWI arrests and a hit-and-run involving a pregnant woman to domestic violence allegations – alongside behavioral issues like testing positive for cocaine before a major fight.
Speaking on The Fighter vs. The Writer, Brown dismissed the idea that these many missteps should diminish Jones` standing. He argued that while no one condones Jones` behavior outside fighting, it is largely “irrelevant” to his unprecedented success inside the octagon.
“We`re going to remember him as the greatest ever still,” Brown stated. He believes that only “nitpickers” and certain “hardcore people” dwell on the controversies. For Brown, the core of Jones` legacy is his performance at the highest level of mixed martial arts.
Brown differentiated Jones` personal conduct from his fighting genius, asserting that his own recollection of Jones is purely based on what he witnessed in competitions. He finds it remarkable that Jones could navigate such significant personal turmoil and still perform at an elite level, citing the victory over Daniel Cormier after a positive cocaine test as a striking example of his unique ability.
While acknowledging that drug testing issues might present a minor “asterisk” on Jones` career – allegations Jones himself has consistently denied – Brown contends that Jones` legal problems didn`t fundamentally impede his competitive career trajectory. He argued that Jones faced and defeated virtually every significant challenger he was meant to, effectively clearing out the divisions he competed in.
Addressing speculation that Jones might have avoided a potential fight with Tom Aspinall towards the end of his career, Brown vehemently rejected the notion of “ducking,” suggesting that perhaps Jones simply wasn`t interested in such a challenging fight as retirement neared, but not that he was actively avoiding a threat.
In conclusion, Brown posits that Jon Jones achieved such a high degree of greatness – highlighted by 14 title defenses and an undefeated record in his primary divisions – that focusing excessively on his outside-the-cage problems overlooks the sheer dominance he displayed as a fighter. Brown suggests that while his personal life was complex, Jones` in-ring accomplishments are undeniable and should define how he is remembered.
Wesley Dunham 
Marcus Blakely