As we reported earlier, former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones pleaded guilty to hit & run charges and received 18-months of probation for the incident. The hit and run was just the latest in a line of troubling incidents surrounding the publicly clean-cut Jones and it now falls into the category of issues Jon has had to be swept under the rug.
‘Teflon Jon’ as I call him has been protected by his PR team and the UFC to an extent for years now and once again he escapes a very public situation with nothing more than a slap on the wrist. Is Jon to blame for that? No. But sooner or later someone has to step up and show Jon that there are consequences for his actions because his “I’m maturing” and “I’m going to learn from this and become a better man” apologies are growing old.
Here’s today’s statement released by Jon through EAG Sports Management:
“With regards to today’s decision made by the court, I am very happy to now be able to put this incident behind me. My actions have caused pain and inconvenience in the lives of others and for that I am truly sorry and I accept full responsibility. I have been working hard during this time away from my sport to grow and mature as a man and to ensure that nothing like this happens again. I have learned a great deal from this situation and I am determined to emerge a better person because of it.
“I apologize to those who were affected by my actions in this incident and I am hopeful that I will be given the opportunity to redeem myself in the eyes of the public, my family and friends as well as my supporters. I am not sure what the future holds for me but I plan to continue to do the work needed to be productive and successful in every aspect of my life.”
Jones has been training regularly since his suspension and with this sentence we will probably see Bones in the octagon as early as next April. It’s no secret that the ultimate factor for behavioral disciplines is the earning potential of the athlete, but the details and video of the Jones incident seemed so foul that it would’ve crushed any other athlete in a major U.S. sport. How does Jones continue to be ‘Teflon Jon?” The fans clamor for him and until that goes away Jon knows that he is on top of the world and almost untouchable. So, it seems like MMA’s best fighter received nothing more than an extended vacation and a chance to fully heal his body for the stretch run of his career.
The UFC is likely turning their wheels to see when exactly they can present Jon with his “second” chance (more like 5th or 6th but who’s counting) and his sponsors will likely hop back on board with the right public apology, but what matters most is the opinion of the fans. Are you willing to forgive and forget once again? Does Jon Jones deserve a second chance in your eyes?
We may have to wait for his PPV numbers to come out to get a true answer to those questions.