Jon Jones’ UFC legacy remains one of the most debated in combat sports, largely because of his enormous success inside the cage contrasted with numerous legal and personal issues outside of it. Throughout his career, Jones has amassed a record that many consider unprecedented, making him arguably the greatest mixed martial artist ever. However, incidents such as a DWI arrest shortly after defeating Rashad Evans, a hit-and-run involving a pregnant woman, and domestic violence allegations have shadowed his public image. Despite these problems, UFC veteran Matt Brown rejects the idea that these off-cage controversies should overshadow Jones’ achievements in the sport.
The impact of Jones’ controversies on his reputation
Matt Brown, speaking on The Fighter vs. The Writer podcast, emphasized that while Jon Jones’ legal troubles are serious, they should not define how fans remember his impact on the sport. Brown pointed to the fighter’s exceptional performance inside the octagon as the core of his legacy, stating,
“We’re going to remember him as the greatest ever still,”
—Matt Brown. He added that although Jones’ off-cage behavior is indefensible and not condoned, it largely remains irrelevant to what he achieved as a fighter.
Brown further explained,
“There’s a million people out there doing terrible shit all the time. He did that terrible shit and continued to be the best in the world’s asses. So I’m not justifying what he did or anything but I speak the name Jon Jones out of my mouth because of his fighting. That’s all I care to talk about with him. I’m only talking about myself, other people may have different opinions but I’m not going to change what I remember about him based on that shit. All I remember is what I’ve seen on TV. That’s all I care about. What is that other shit, it’s basically irrelevant. In my opinion, he should be remembered for what he did inside the cage and this shit outside, is a completely separate, irrelevant thing.”
—Matt Brown
Jones’ career disruptions and performance-enhancing drug allegations
Jones’ off-cage issues also caused significant interruptions in his fighting schedule throughout his career. With multiple suspensions related to drug testing failures and legal problems, Jones missed numerous fighting opportunities, including a ban from competing at UFC 200. One of his most famous victories, a knockout over longtime rival Daniel Cormier, was later overturned to a no-contest due to a failed drug test. While Jones has consistently denied using performance-enhancing drugs, his reputation in this regard remains a contentious topic.
Brown acknowledged this aspect as the primary asterisk on Jones’ career, but overall, he feels the fighter still met every challenge placed in front of him. Regarding fighters Jones faced during his run, Brown said,
“I don’t see where it got in his way that much,”
—Matt Brown and insisted Jones fought every legitimate contender except for one potential matchup against Tom Aspinall, which never materialized because Jones was coming toward retirement.
Brown dismissed arguments that Jones avoided Aspinall, noting,
“Some people are going to make the argument that he ducked Tom Aspinall and I’ll shoot that down right now. He’s not ducking Tom Aspinall. Maybe he’s not interested in that tough of a fight. I’ll give you that if that’s what you want to say. Ducking? Get the f*ck out of here.”
—Matt Brown
The challenge of separating personal life from professional achievements
Brown understands firsthand how personal troubles can affect a fighter’s career and mental state, but he remains amazed at how Jones persevered through his issues and maintained dominance in the lightweight and heavyweight divisions. Brown is particularly struck by Jones’ ability to compete at the highest level despite testing positive for cocaine just weeks before his 2015 victory over Cormier.
Reflecting on this, Brown shared,
“I’ve seen less f*ck ups really f*ck up someone’s fight career,”
—Matt Brown and added,
“I’ve done a lot of cocaine in my life. It’s been a long time, many, many years —I cannot imagine for the life of me going out to a professional fight, nonetheless against a f*cking Olympian [Daniel Cormier], one of the greatest fighters ever and having a f*cking chance.”
—Matt Brown He went on to say,
“I can’t even imagine walking out. I can’t imagine weighing in or walking out. That is a special, special motherf*cker.”
—Matt Brown
Jones’ lasting impact on the sport
While the debate continues regarding the effect of Jon Jones’ off-cage controversies on his legacy, Matt Brown remains focused solely on the fighter’s professional accomplishments. Brown acknowledged that without those issues, Jones might have fought more often and achieved even greater records. Nevertheless, he emphasized the remarkable career Jones had regardless.
Brown concluded,
“Had he not done all those things, yeah, he probably could have fought more often and I think he could be 60-0 right now if he wanted,”
—Matt Brown adding,
“In the light heavyweight and heavyweight division, there wouldn’t be a single guy in the division who didn’t lose to Jon Jones. He just beat everybody.”
—Matt Brown He summed up his respect by stating,
“He got out of his own way enough to have 14 title defenses and go undefeated. It’s like how much more greatness do we want out of the guy?”
—Matt Brown
Continued discussion on MMA podcasts
Matt Brown’s thoughts on Jon Jones appeared on The Fighter vs. The Writer podcast, which airs new episodes every Tuesday. Audio versions are accessible through popular platforms like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeartRadio. These discussions offer fans deeper insight into the complexities of fighters’ legacies beyond their performances inside the cage.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What did Jon Jones test positive for?
A. During the hearing, it was disclosed that Jones had tested positive for clomiphene and letrozole metabolites. These are present in Tadalafil, a drug for erectile dysfunction that Jones admitted to using.