UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones can't be accused of shirking his media duties. He's facing Rashad Evans at UFC 145 in Atlanta, Georgia on April 21 and in the mean-time is mixing a ton of media in with his training for the fight.
Yesterday we posted the video of Jones' joint appearance with Evans on Canada's CSS SportsNite and here's more video of Jones' relentless promotional work. This is a behind the scenes video shot by Jones' management as he does a radio tour.
Additionally, Jones has been named an honorary race official for this Sunday's Daytona 500. The full press release is after the jump.
Fans often fail to appreciate the importance and difficulty of doing this kind of sustained media outreach. Have no doubt that its hard work requiring considerable discipline and self-control. Whatever his faults, Jones is an excellent ambassador for the sport and not someone Dana White has to worry about blowing off an important appearance or showing up in no condition to do an interview.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - UFC Light Heavyweight champion Jon "Bones" Jones will serve as Honorary Race Official for the 54th annual Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday, Feb. 26 at Daytona International Speedway (FOX, 1 p.m. ET).
As Honorary Race Official, Jones will be introduced at the driver's meeting, participate in pre-race ceremonies and ride in one of the honorary race official cars ahead of the 43-car field for the 200-lap, 500-mile historic race.
"Jon ‘Bones' Jones is the biggest name in mixed martial arts," Daytona International Speedway President Joie Chitwood III said. "We are excited to welcome him to the ‘World Center of Racing' and have him be a part of the pre-race ceremonies for NASCAR's biggest, richest and most prestigious race."
"I am thrilled to be able to serve as Honorary Race Official at this year's Daytona 500, NASCAR's premier event," Jones said. "Like the UFC, NASCAR has a passionate and knowledgeable fan base, and I am honored that I will get to share this experience with them."
Jones' holds a career record of 15-1, which is comprised of eight knockouts and five submissions. He was named "Most Dangerous Man" at the 2011 Spike Guys' Choice Awards and "2011 Fighter of the Year" at the World MMA Awards.
In December 2011, the Endicott, N.Y. native capped off what many have hailed as the greatest year in MMA history with a submission against Lyoto Machida.
Earlier in the year, Jones became the youngest champion in UFC history at the age of 23 after he won all four of his fights and earned the Light Heavyweight title. With two more defeats of former champions later in 2011, Jones became the first fighter in UFC history to defeat three former champions in one year.
Jones entered the UFC in August 2008 after only four months of competing in professional fights.
Currently, Jones trains in Alburquerque, N.M. under legendary MMA coach Greg Jackson. On April 21 in Atlanta, Jones will take on his former champion training partner, "Suga" Rashad Evans, in one of the most anticipated UFC fights of the year.
Tickets for Speedweeks 2012 events, including the 54th annual Daytona 500, are available online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.
If you are unable to attend in person, be sure to tune in to the Daytona 500 on FOX on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 1 p.m. ET.
Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter (www.twitter.com/disupdates) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/DaytonaInternationalSpeedway). In addition, fans can follow NASCAR on Twitter (@NASCAR) and stay up to speed on the latest news by using hashtags #NASCAR and #DAYTONA500.
0 recs | 35 comments
What a cocky asshole
Doing media publicity. I think he’s the only fighter in MMA history to ever do this kind of shit! And he’s doing the Daytona 500 on the network that broadcasts the UFC’s biggest free cards? What a dick!
Tank Abbott, if you’re still alive, I hope you KO Jon Jones bad next fight. Jones has a bad chin.
Don’t feed me facts and amazing accomplishments. They hurt my made-up agenda. :(
SSreporters - February 20, 2012
The only thing more annoying the the Jon Jones is an asshole posts
are these ones.
OMG PREEMPTIVE STRIKE
ZapRowsdower - February 20, 2012
Hopefully he doesn't get booed like the only black NASCAR driver
I hate that I love motorsports sometimes.
menckenstein - February 20, 2012
I'd probably be more interested in Formula 1 than Nascar
Nascar is just awful. Formula One is practically street racing in faster cars with more difficult turns. NASCAR is in an oval 99% of the time bar the Watkins Glen type of courses.
SSreporters - February 20, 2012
They're both pretty exciting to watch when internal politics aren't mucking things up
SBK was my favorite, don’t enjoy MotoGP as much for whatever reason.
menckenstein - February 20, 2012
Come on up to Montreal
F1 is a blast!
voiceinthedesert - February 20, 2012
This is true, for what it’s worth.
Unabomberman - February 20, 2012
I'd love to see Jones all Chuck'd up on the morning news
Or anyone really.
menckenstein - February 20, 2012
No way.
Jon is super controlled. the only way you’ll see something negative about him in the morning news is if he does some massive fuckup. And he won’t, ‘cause he’s not a dummy like that, unless…
And no athlete can resist.
Unabomberman - February 20, 2012
Really I want to see Stefan Struve swaying around with his fists up like he's dodging punches in the Matrix ala Chuck
That’s my dream gif.
menckenstein - February 20, 2012
gspmademegay - February 20, 2012
Yeah. Perfect characterization.
Unabomberman - February 20, 2012
Jones could be the most popular fighter in MMA if he embraced his arrogance instead of trying to conceal it. I wanna hear Jones say he’s going to destroy Rashad, that he’s going to kill every LHW they put in front of him for the next 10 years. I’d love to hear that from him, we know he’s thinking it but instead, he chooses to act nice and humble. Too bad. Jones is such a badass, he should act like one.
Kenya_MMA - February 20, 2012
He's not like that.
I don’t even think he’s outwardly arrogant.
He’s just full of himself, in a way that he sees as a positive but that other folk find unbearable. I think he sees it as living up to the expectations and responsibility that is expected of him.
Unabomberman - February 20, 2012
I like how you think
I would add that with GSP it is effotless as it is genuine and heartfelt. He is a good guy and it shows. Than man does not have one mean bone in his body, but he is one hell of a competitor.
voiceinthedesert - February 20, 2012
Floyd Mayweathers are dime a dozen
Jones is sublime, man. He’s original that way.
Minus the whole Christian deal, but whatever.
D Squared - February 20, 2012
THIS.
Oddly enough, this is something that makes the most sense for his character, and what my friends have been debating for the last year.
Jones needs to embrace his inner heel.
McKinley B. Noble - February 20, 2012
I don't care HOW he tries to portray himself in public
as long as he keeps whooping major ass like he has been.
ElliotMatheny - February 22, 2012
jon jones is smart
and hes about to become pretty wealthy. good for him.
gspmademegay - February 20, 2012
Let's hope he wises up and doesn't pull a Pacquiao.
That would suck.
Unabomberman - February 20, 2012
or be really funny.
gspmademegay - February 20, 2012
He's gonna start singing?
can’t wait for the i.am.bones LP on iTunes
menckenstein - February 20, 2012
the music video for his single will look something like this
Johnathan Willis - February 20, 2012
I long for the day that I can read a Jon Jones article without seeing sarcastic comments about him being a dick
Charles Awad - February 20, 2012
Neva!
Unabomberman - February 20, 2012
But why take the fun out of it?
Don’t do that. It’s fun to hate on Jones.
McKinley B. Noble - February 20, 2012
This is honestly a huge honor and speaking with his publicist
I can say that if you are in the Daytona area there will be a ton of opportunities to meet with and speak to Jones. They have a lot planned. They’ll also be releasing another video of the behind the scene for Daytona 500 week.
Matthew Roth - February 20, 2012
He's spending the whole week there?
Aren’t they worried that’ll mess with his training?
menckenstein - February 20, 2012
Will likely be training while in Florida
His management is based out of Florida so I have no doubts they’ll maintain his training schedule. But things like Meet and Greets won’t really hinder his camp.
Matthew Roth - February 20, 2012
Maybe be can train with the Blackzillians while he is in FL!
Hardcharger - February 20, 2012 via mobile
It would be even cooler if he went down for Bike Week and rode a Harley and maybe ref’d the cole slaw wrestling at the Cabbage Patch.
(oops…that cabbage reference was unintentional…)
( . Y . ) - February 20, 2012
THIS CLOSE TO A BANNING!
Matthew Roth - February 20, 2012
Was it the “oops” that saved me?
Memo to self: Always say Oooops…
( . Y . ) - February 20, 2012
Good for him
I like that Jones is making a concerted effort to do media and try to get himself known and bring MMA into the mainstream. It seems like he’s trying to fill the vacuum that Chuck and Lesnar have left. I think that if the whole “Muhammad Ali of MMA” thing stuck with him then lots of non-fans would try to check him out just to see if he lived up to it and chances are they’d be impressed.
HaterSlayer - February 20, 2012
Jon Jones, the most known UFC personality in the world
Within a year
warren305 - February 20, 2012
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Bloody Elbow to post a comment.