UFC
UFC Champ Jon Jones admittedly arrogant on fighting ability, motivated by negative fan backlash
Apr 22, 2014 - 5:45:35 PM UFC Champ Jon Jones admittedly arrogant on fighting ability, motivated by negative fan backlash

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

UFC Champ Jon Jones has let his arrogant side show more and more over the last several fights, and in an interview with FoxSports.com this week he says it's something he's grown comfortable with in his position.

"I think I am. I think I am a little arrogant," Jones said. "I think it's really important. The thing about me I say all the time is, I notice that I'm full of myself and I am arrogant to some degree, but it's obviously only when it comes to talking about MMA, where literally, I do the wildest stuff. I don't think I live like a celebrity at all. All my friends are normal people, normal dudes who do the most normal stuff all the time. But when it comes to MMA, there is a big chip on my shoulder. There is a way that I look at myself, and I think it's really, really important."

"It's something I'm not really apologetic for. As I get older and as I win more, I start to embrace it even more. The biggest thing is not to be apologetic for it. I realize it's a big part of the reason I'm able to perform out there. The moment I let fear seep is the moment the fights start getting closer and closer. So yeah, I think it's important to be an absolute believer and have that confidence."

That arrogance has manifested itself further in Jones' comments about Alexander Gustafsson. While his UFC 165 challenger pushed him to the brink, it was still Jones coming out the victor. As such, Jones has had a hard push back against both Gustafsson and those who have tried to disparage his win and get Gustafsson back in the cage with him immediately.

"I think it's funny when people say I need to beat Gustafsson again to prove my greatness," Jones said. "It's like, what makes Gustafsson great? Because he had a close fight with me? What else has he really done to prove that he's great, you know what I mean? Styles make matchups."

"He's not a champion at all. I've won the belt seven times. He got tapped by Phil Davis and lost to me fair and square. This guy gets so much praise. Having a close fight with me was the greatest thing he's ever done. And I think he's like living off of that and feeding off of it and loving it. It's a defeat. It's still a defeat. The guy's driving around on a new motorcycle with a new Rolex like he's the champ. It's like, 'Dude, you lost. You still lost.' You have so much pride for coming close to me. I would be pissed off if I was him."

Still, that fight, and the reaction that has come from it, have Jones in the right frame of mind to perform better moving forward.

"Having the fight with Gustafsson, I got a taste of what it would be like if I actually lost," Jones said. "Hearing things like, 'You suck,' I ask myself, how can I suck after beating almost every legend in light-heavyweight history? But hearing this negative backlash from having such a close fight has motivated me to not ever lose. It's like, if people can talk to me like this for having a close fight, imagine what guys who lose hear? It's a different level of motivation I've gotten through having such a close fight."

Penick's Analysis: I've continued to hold that it really doesn't matter whether or not you like Jon Jones outside of the cage, his in-cage work has to be respected. He's earned the right to be arrogant about his abilities, because he's proven to be that good. He's irked by Alexander Gustafsson's hero treatment for becoming the closest thing Jones has had to a challenge, and though he'll have to get through that again later this year if he beats Glover Teixeira, he doesn't see why Gustafsson deserves that opportunity. Regardless, that's what he'll have to deal with going forward, and though his arrogance is earned, it's not going to be met kindly by all.

[Jon Jones art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]