Jon Jones is considered by many to be the greatest fighter ever, but his actions outside the UFC cage have often sparked controversy among fans.
Despite holding the UFC heavyweight title, Jones is currently drawing criticism from fans due to the continued delay of a potential unification fight with Tom Aspinall.
The likelihood of that fight seems to decrease daily, especially as Jones takes on a co-ownership role in Dirty Boxing Championship, diverting his focus.
While his status as the greatest of all time remains largely unchallenged, opinions on Jones, nicknamed ‘Bones’, are divided because of his history of out-of-cage incidents.
Jon Jones` Lifestyle Surprised UFC Champion
Although Jones has maintained his position as a top fighter, Aljamain Sterling was surprised by his time spent with ‘Bones’. This encounter led Sterling to rethink his approach to fighting.
“We were at school together during my freshman year and his sophomore year, before he became a UFC fighter. We partied quite a bit,” Sterling shared on his YouTube channel.
“He left school, and I later saw photos of him doing impressive things… It made me think, ‘I want that.’ I thought I needed to live like a monk, be extremely disciplined.
“I assumed Jon Jones was so successful because of his intense focus, sacrifices, and dedication.”
“Then, I saw him at a bar, maybe after he had been in the UFC for two or three fights. He probably had a fight coming up the next week, yet he was drinking, having fun, and offering me a drink,” Sterling recalled.
Throughout his UFC career, Sterling has been known for his athletic lifestyle, consistently staying fit and dedicated to training.
“I was thinking, ‘No, I have a fight in five weeks. Wait, you’re fighting tomorrow… I’m confused about what’s going on here?’”
“This changed my perspective. I had been denying myself pleasures that made training more enjoyable, thinking it was about ‘sacrifice.’ But I realized the mental aspect was key,” Sterling explained.
Sterling’s Title Win Followed Mindset Shift
After his conversation with Jones, Sterling adjusted his mindset and adopted a different strategy for his fighting career.
This shift contributed to him winning the UFC bantamweight title in 2021 and defending it three times.
Sterling has since moved to the featherweight division, aiming to join an elite group of fighters who have held titles in multiple weight classes.
