Photo by Esther Lin for MMA Fighting.
UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones called in to the MMA Hour today. Jones spoke with host Ariel Helwani about his upcoming title defense against former teammate Rashad Evans. Evans beat Phil Davis this past Saturday at UFC on Fox 2 in a number one contender's match.
The two fighters have been engaged in a bitter feud ever since Jones stepped in for an injured Evans to take a title shot against Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 128. Jones won that fight handily and Evans has been trying to get a title shot ever since.
Helwani asked Jones if Greg Jackson would be cornering him against Evans.
"Rashad and Greg had some genuine moments and I wouldn't put him in that position. ...I could never imagine [Jackson] coaching against me, and I wouldn't put that pressure on him to coach against Rashad," Jones replied.
Despite the acrimony, Jones hopes that he and Evans can improve their relationship once they have fought.
"I'd love to have a respectful relationship with him, because actually, deep down, I kind of just liked hanging with the guy," said Jones. "He was cool. We had good times. We did a lot of cool stuff together and it sucked that competition came between our friendship. After this fight, I just hope that the respect can be restored. Friendship is not necessary, but the respect should be restored," Jones told Helwani.
Jones also told Helwani that he
1 recs | 115 comments
so good Johnny Bones
Eduardo Cruz - January 30, 2012
Not a good idea.
I don’t think Jones should do anything to change his routine. Even so, I don’t think Rashad will beat him, but this will definitely improve Rashad’s odds.
FragglesHateKos - January 30, 2012
That's quite a respectful thing for Jones to do.
I don’t know how much a difference it will make, but i’m sure deep down Jacson wouldn’t have felt comfortable going up against Rashad like that.
@KatanaClothing - January 30, 2012
Yeah, classy move.
ElliotMatheny - January 30, 2012
It is, but did Jones have a choice?
Not sure Jones could have muscled Jackson into cornering him anyways.
jhf884 - January 31, 2012
Irrational Bones Hatred Countdown
Earl Montclair - January 30, 2012
THIS CHUMP THINKS HE DOESNT NEED GREG JACKSON?
TALK ABOUT COCKY. WITHOUT JACKSON JONES IS WORSE THAN CURDLED PUDDING.
halitosis - January 30, 2012 via mobile
THAT FAWKIN ARRAGOHNT PRICK
Pyrgz Krum - January 30, 2012
FAWKIN JOKE
Andy Anderson - January 30, 2012
What the fuck is curdled pudding?
av1o3 - January 30, 2012
WTF is my team roster doing on your sig (other than making it respectable and totally awesome)?
Earl Montclair - January 30, 2012
Just making sure that if I choose to make fun of bad scores it’s not on the team.
halitosis - January 30, 2012
Before I made that sig
I had no idea that mountaneers101 or farthammer were on our team.
halitosis - January 30, 2012
oh shit okay
i thought it was Campbell’s sig! My bad
Earl Montclair - January 30, 2012
It was the all caps wasn't it
halitosis - January 30, 2012
sure was
Earl Montclair - January 30, 2012
I'm expecting to see this at the end of the countdown:
MicahtheCynic - January 30, 2012
A box of mysteries?
halitosis - January 30, 2012
This remind anyone else of Y2J?
savik - January 30, 2012
Jon Jones is a cool guy.
spectaa - January 30, 2012
Greg Jackson was probably on the other line telling Bones to go win some fans
Day Man - January 31, 2012
I came here to say exactly this.
Green this man!!
Luke Nelson - January 31, 2012 via mobile
love it.
vivero - February 1, 2012
JBJ is scared
Robert V-U - January 30, 2012
Please Rashad, don't hurt 'em!
Django Z - January 31, 2012
"Friendship is not necessary, but the respect should be restored"
Respect? Rashad earned a title shot after you beat Shogun. Suddenly you needed surgery to fix something that didnt need fixing. Rashad gets booked to keep busy and then you say ‘You know what? I dont need surgery. Give me a challenger who isnt busy.’
Cant respect ducking of that magnitude
Ricardo Arguello - January 30, 2012
ducking or not
Rashad gettin merked bad. I think Shogun and Machida are way better than Rashad and they got handled. And yes that is MMA math but Rashad getting KO’ed
NEW-HAMPSHIRE - January 30, 2012
Styles make fights
So yeah, Jones will win
halitosis - January 30, 2012
I don't have much personal like for Jones.
But it is silly to suggest that he ducked Rashad. Why? b/c you can’t duck people in the UFC—Zuffa protects its investments, and if need be, it will fly you to see a freaking doctor of their choosing just so that you are not trying to pull shenanigans on their event schedule which is, allegedly, what Todd Duffee tried to do and then found himself getting cut.
Unabomberman - January 30, 2012
The nice thing about respect
is that it can be beaten into someone.
In My Opinion - January 30, 2012
definitely
HitokiriX - January 30, 2012
so rec'd.
gspmademegay - January 30, 2012
So it will be time for Rashad to respect Jones after April 21st.
Meek Mill - January 30, 2012
I'll like Jones alot more after he is beaten and has lost the Messiah complex.
Django Z - January 31, 2012
Glad to see he's at least starting to say the right things
LRaunThaDamaja - January 30, 2012 via mobile
this apparent desire to squash the feud win or lose is actually a sign of maturity from Jones. that’s a good thing. i also applaud him not wanting to have Jackson feel conflicted.
Victor Rodriguez - January 30, 2012
Jackson said all along he wouldn't corner him
So… ya know… ?
Still, very good PR here.
KGNLuc - January 30, 2012
true. this might even
get him some fans.
gspmademegay - January 30, 2012
Would be funny
if Greg Jackson showed up in Rashad’s corner instead.
Well it would be for a couple mins until Rashad is tko’d by hellbows, then he’d look dumb.
Tats16 - January 30, 2012
you just predicted the fight perfectly.
NEW-HAMPSHIRE - January 30, 2012
I think it ends in a choke
But hellbows will definitely play their part. I can see it now, Rashad crumpled against the cage bleeding while Jones sinks in a medieval guillotine. It’s brutal, but awesome, and I don’t even hate Rashad.
halitosis - January 30, 2012
I would love for that to happen
But an RNC seams plausible after Rashad takes like 5 of those bows and turns around to the fetal position as Jones knees the shit out of his body until he rolls over, gives Jones the choke, and taps immediately
NEW-HAMPSHIRE - January 30, 2012
Jones might do a better job
Of jumping on submissions when his opponent’s hurt than anybody in MMA.
Patrick Wyman - January 30, 2012
thats b/c his opponent
usually has a broken face or a brand new vagina on their forehead.
gspmademegay - January 30, 2012
Lol'ing hard
But seriously, there aren’t many guys who have that kind of multifaceted killer instinct.
Patrick Wyman - January 30, 2012
that arent already in prison.
gspmademegay - January 30, 2012
Fedor was pretty good at switching from blasting someone in the face then switching to a choke or armbar.
YoungGun - January 30, 2012
Ah true
I miss old Fedor.
Patrick Wyman - January 30, 2012
They need to reintroduce the old model
I wish fighters worked like cars…
Andy Anderson - January 30, 2012
Or like flavors of soda
I want Fedor-classic…and Cro Cop classic.
New version of Overeem is a lot better than ‘Pride style’ though…
Chris Groves - January 31, 2012
Pride Overeem=DietCoke
New Overeem=CokeZero?
YoungGun - January 31, 2012
lawls.
gspmademegay - January 30, 2012
GSP is exposed, a real champ doesnt need the sports best coach to FINISH his 4th consecutive former champ.SchruteBoxe - January 30, 2012
Your username
Rivals Art_Wanderlei as the best sitcom/MMA hybrid usernames.
halitosis - January 30, 2012
He probably wins based on not having an underscore
Art_Wanderlei - January 30, 2012
There he is
If you didn’t have the underscore, you’d win hands down, but that makes it competitive
halitosis - January 30, 2012
If I come up with a sweet sig we could see this going five rounds
Art_Wanderlei - January 30, 2012
Make it the Danny Miller foundation
You’d get serious cred
halitosis - January 30, 2012
Now that the West Memphis 3 are out I kind of got nothing. I was thinking “The Man in Black Fled Across the Desert and the Gunslinger Followed” but nobody would get it
Art_Wanderlei - January 30, 2012
You could make a video of Elaine Beniz dancing to sandstorm
And put the link to it in your sig
halitosis - January 30, 2012
A full body dry heave to the beat of some techno isnt a bad idea
Art_Wanderlei - January 30, 2012
I’d freakin get it. Gunslinger was great. And there were a lot of awesome moments in the Dark Tower Series. Even if it was a bit off at times.
castleeb - January 30, 2012
Love this guy
Art_Wanderlei - January 30, 2012
Which ka-tet do you like better, the first or the second?
castleeb - January 30, 2012
The ka-tet of 1999
Art_Wanderlei - January 30, 2012
Dang really? I’m a huge fan of Cuthbert.
castleeb - January 30, 2012
Me too but Eddy and Oy take it for me
Art_Wanderlei - January 30, 2012
Steven King
The Gunslinger series.
gremlin1496 - January 30, 2012
Love this guy too
Art_Wanderlei - January 30, 2012
Why do you think no one would get a reference to one of the most popular book series of the 20th century?
crazybones - January 30, 2012
Dark Tower?
Chris Groves - January 31, 2012
Latex sales?
TheDreadedMarco - January 30, 2012 via mobile
MS_Dos Santos is excellent
SSreporters - January 30, 2012
Haven't seen this one, but really wish I would have thought of it. On point.
NickRingp4pGOAT - January 31, 2012
Damn cliffhangers!
Zachary Kater - January 30, 2012
You got a problem with Cliffhangers?
Unabomberman - January 30, 2012
Pointless, empty statement
Jackson said long ago that he’d refuse to corner Jones for this fight
Cunny - January 30, 2012
Yeah, long ago when they both trained under Jackson.
schm1583 - January 30, 2012
couldn't remember the timeline on that
Cunny - January 31, 2012
Good for Jones and Jackson
I’m straight, so that means I like girls
warren305 - January 30, 2012
I think the bigger story from this is that Jones wants to fight at HW before 2012
He told Dana that he wants a top 10 HW before the end of the year if he beats Hendo and Rashad.
HaterSlayer - January 30, 2012
Wow
I didn’t think he’d actually do that
halitosis - January 30, 2012
Id like to see Jones vs Carwin
Art_Wanderlei - January 30, 2012
Barnett
would be nice.
AusEagle - January 30, 2012
I personally would like to see him go for the LHW title defense record
It’s currently held by Tito at 5. If Jones got to 6 then went up to HW…that’d be pretty f’cking sweet.
But he’s sort of known for the whole ‘too much, too soon, dominate anyway’ thing though…so who knows.
Chris Groves - January 31, 2012
He didn't want to move up permanently
He just wanted to do it “for the fans” or whatever.
HaterSlayer - January 31, 2012
OHHH ok then
That’d be cool as shit then.
In my mind, weight jumping gives you bonus points as far as ‘pound for pound’ status goes.
Chris Groves - January 31, 2012
This is the most noble thing anyone has done...
since the Underground Railroad.
Matt Hamill's Ears - January 30, 2012 via mobile
Bbbbbbut
I thought Jones Jones was a evil awful person. Hmmm maybe he is really a nice guy and all the hate is jealousy.
attgnp - January 30, 2012
the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle
Earl Montclair - January 30, 2012
like it does with most everything in life
You have the people to think that because jon jones calls himself a christian that he has to be perfect and so they try to use every example of him being un-christain like as evidence that hes fake and a hypocrite.
Then you have the people who think jon jones is just evil and everything hes does or says that’s seemingly good is just being used by jon jones to appeal to the masses.
The truth is that jon jones is just a human being. And no human being is purely good or evil but a mix of both. But given that fact that he cares for his kids, donates to charities, and stops muggers…I inclined to believe hes more good than evil.
C.A.M. - January 30, 2012
I'm inclined he's just a dude that tries too hard.
He is a total square, but not everyone can be a personality.
Unabomberman - January 30, 2012
I'm inclined to believe
that you are a hater and Jones beat up your favorite fighter.
attgnp - January 30, 2012
Doesnt mean hes not right
Art_Wanderlei - January 30, 2012
He really is odd
I go to a college with an abnormally high percentage of homeschooled students. Jon Jones is a bit goofy like them. He isn’t a jerk, he isn’t a cool guy. He is just weird.
Andy Anderson - January 30, 2012
Its somewhat frustrating he almost has “it” and then he keeps talking
Art_Wanderlei - January 30, 2012
yup
he reminds me of me, but taller and darker. i’m more handsome though.
Andy Anderson - January 30, 2012
But not nearly as athletic nor explosive, I bet.
Unabomberman - January 30, 2012
Nah
I am only like 1/8th athletic & explosive, and a bit NA, and Caucasian.
Andy Anderson - January 31, 2012
That’s like eighty percent right?
discoandherpes - January 31, 2012
yeah, i think this is accurate
he comes off as breezy and cool a lot of the time
then he’ll just say some dummy shit
Cunny - January 31, 2012
Why would you think that?
I am of the idea that it is just plain weird to dislike some fighter that beat a fighter you happened to like. If that were the case, I’d hate Wandy, Hendo, Cigano, Nog, and pretty much everyone else.
Unabomberman - January 31, 2012
I know it didn't make much sense
I’m just saying that it seems like about 75% of the BE community just searches for reasons to hate Jones. The guy can’t do anything with out catching shit. His first time announcing for Fox and he catches shit. He chokes out Lyoto and doesn’t gently tuck him in and he catches shit. He is a consistently nice polite guy but damn near every one on BE accuses him of being a cocky arrogant dick. It’s not a big deal, it just strikes me as a funny tendency of people on BE to do this. GSP seems to be a target of this as well, not saying the complaints about him not finishing aren’t justified though.
attgnp - January 31, 2012
If this fight actually happens I will eat my hat
(a hat made out of potato chips that is)
Rob Young - January 30, 2012
Pics or it didn't happen
in April.
BKdroid - January 31, 2012
When there both standing in opposing sides of octagon, then I’ll believe it. Jones is gonna crush the midget. I’m tryn to think of away Shad can win. Still thinkn….?
Hankverdee - January 30, 2012 via mobile
The article cuts off at the end. "Jones also told Helwani that he"....
Reads like one of those READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE AT GENERICBLOG.BLOGSPOT.COM fanposts
BROCKLESNAR!!!!! - January 30, 2012
The original story is at MMA Fighting
and he actually talks a little crap about Rashad and Phil Davis. This is creatively edited to put a shiny glow on Bones Jones.
wmuk - January 30, 2012
I don’t dislike Jon Jones for the record. Just laughing about the cliffhanger.
wmuk - January 30, 2012
I smell a face turn...
Now Jon go check on him and get yourself some fans!
BrothaDarkness - January 30, 2012
Like LeBron, Jones needs to embrace his dark side and go full heel.
It suits his personality and he’d be alot more fun to watch.
The humble act that he can’t pull off is just awkward.
Django Z - January 31, 2012
He really does, as the image of his personality he is creating now is hard to engage with, and he has huge potential as a heel.
Drunken cutman - January 31, 2012
I can't wait.
Loot - January 30, 2012
One thing both guys have in common
NJCAA champions…
Andy Anderson - January 30, 2012
When Greg Jackson told Jones what Machida was doing
regarding his kicks, Jones adjusted and caught Machida with a Superman punch. I think this is a bad idea that Jackson will not be in his corner.
AnyGiven - January 31, 2012
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