Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones is a short time away from fighting Daniel Cormier for the gold in a rematch at UFC 214.
The fighter is coming off of a lengthy suspension for failing a drug test prior to UFC 200, but the fighter admits that a lot of his problems began because he was attempting to live like a saint when he got into professional MMA.
"I think my problem, when I first got into the game, was I wanted to be a saint—like, literally," Jones said to Bleacher Report. "I thought I had to be a real goodie-goodie. I'm at a place now where I realize that the fans don't really care if you're a good boy or a bad boy. They just want you to be responsible, you know? Hitting a pregnant woman and taking off running is not responsible. Taking a dick pill is not being responsible."
Jones has also admitted to a lot of drug usage in his past, plus the aforementioned car accident where he hit a vehicle that had a pregnant woman in it.
It was when the former champion reached his lowest point that he realized just how much he took for granted.
"You're used to living the good life, you're doing work you love, you have a big-ass house. And then you have all your shit taken away. It's just you and a suit that doesn't fit, and socks that are dingy, pillowcases that have somebody else's sweat stains still on them. And the flip-flops that fucking don't cover the heel of your foot. Or showering when people can watch you. It was a terrible experience, but it was all I needed," Jones says. "I finally realized at this point in my life how much I took for granted."
UFC 214 takes place on Saturday, July 29 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada with Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
