There was a time when it seemed like Jones’ professional and personal life was spiraling out of control, but Jones has turned his life around according to UFC President Dana White.
“The truth is that – and you’ve seen it in every sport – too rich, too famous, too young, and when that happens to you, there are consequences to it,” White said to MMA Junkie. “There’s a good side and a bad side. Some people can deal the it, some can’t, but then you eventually get to a point that you hopefully get yourself under control and you start to take it seriously and get you shit together. Usually, by the time you do that, it’s too late and your (athletic) window has closed and it’s over. But that’s not the case for Jon Jones.”
Jones, just during his time in the UFC, has failed multiple drug tests and once crashed his car into a vehicle driven by a pregnant woman, among other things.
White also says that Jones is becoming one of the top draws in the UFC, citing the massive gate Jones is bringing in for UFC 247.
“Of course he is (a drawing card), we just broke the record at the Toyota Center for this fight, so yeah, Jones is as star,” White said. “We did $3.2 million (at the gate), still a couple of hundred tickets to move and we’re opening up some productions kills right now, so it will be well over $3.2 million. And yeah, we’ll have the record.”
UFC 247 takes place tomorrow night from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas with Jon Jones and Dominick Reyes headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
