Jon Jones preparing for a fight

Jon Jones: Controversies, Retirement & Net Worth

Jon Jones is a retired American professional mixed martial artist who was signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Further, he competed in the light heavyweight division.

Likewise, he was the youngest champion in UFC history at age 23 after defeating Maurício Rua for the Light Heavyweight title.

Hence, he has held the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship title two times; March 2011 – April 2015 & December 2018 – August 2020.

Moreover, he has held multiple records, including the most title defenses, most wins, longest win streak, and most submission victories.

Jones' interview in UFC 182.
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones speaks to the media during the UFC 182.

Furthermore, Jon’s only loss is a controversial disqualification against Matt Hamill via illegal downward elbows. He has always dominated fights and earned a name for himself.

Therefore, as of March 23, 2021, he is ranked top in UFC pound-for-pound, replacing Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Similarly, he is widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. However, due to various controversies, his career has seen multiple ups and downs.

Quick Facts

Full Name Jonathan Dwight Jones
Birth Date July 19, 1987
Birth Place Rochester, New York, U.S
Nick Name Bones
Religion Christian
Nationality American
Ethnicity Afro-American
Education Union-Endicott High School
Horoscope Cancer
Father’s Name Arthur Jones Jr.
Mother’s Name Camille Jones
Siblings Three
Age 36 Years Old
Height 6 ft 4 in
Weight 205 lb
Hair Color Black
Eye Color Black
Build Athletic
Sports Mixed Martial Art
Team Jackson Wink MMA Academy
Profession Mixed Martial Artist
Active Years 2008 – Present
Weight Class Light heavyweight
Fight Record 26-1-0
Last Match UFC 247
Light Heavyweight: Main event final
Against Dominick Reyes
Some of his Best Highlights youtube.com
Marital Status Engaged
Fiancée Jessie Moses
Kids Three
Net Worth $20 Million
Social Media Instagram, Twitter, Facebook
Merch Signed Gloves, Signed UFC Magazine, Signed Replica Belt
Last Update March, 2024

Jon Jones: Early Life, Family, and Education

Jon Jones was born in Rochester, New York, to Arthur Jones Jr. and Camille Jones.

Likewise, he has two brothers; Chandler, an NFL linebacker, and Arthur, a former NFL defensive end.

He also had a sister named Carmen, who died in 2000 due to brain cancer. Sadly, his mother also died at age 55 in 2017 due to diabetes.

Further, his father is a pastor at Mount Sinai Church, who had disapproved of him being a fighter. In fact, his father wanted him to be a pastor just like him.

Nonetheless, the fighter didn’t listen. However, he always didn’t have fighting as his first career option.

Jones' brothers.
Young Jones, along with his brothers.

Just like his brothers, he also wanted to be a football player. As a result, he wrestled and played football as a defensive lineman during his time at Union-Endicott High School.

Furthermore, he was a stand-out in high school wrestling. Therefore, he won the state wrestling champion representing Union-Endicott High School.

After graduation, he went to the Iowa Central Community College, where he won a national JUCO championship.

Following this victory, he transferred to Morrisville State College to study Criminal Justice.

Nevertheless, de didn’t complete his study and dropped out to begin his MMA career.

Jon Jones: Age, Height, and Weight

The former two-time UFC Lightweight Champion was born on July 19, 1987.

Hence, he is 36 Years Old. Being an athlete, he takes excellent care of his health and diet.

He hits the gym quite frequently and has a very toned physique.

Furthermore, Jones is 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 205 lb, i.e., 93 kg.

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Jon Jones: MMA Career

Debut, Championship, and Controversial Loss

The former Light Heavyweight champion began his MMA career on April 12, 2008.

Further, he won the fight via insane punches in the first round in just under 2 minutes.

Likewise, he cruised to four more victories, after which he captured the USKBA Light Heavyweight Championship.

However, soon after this victory, he signed with UFC and vacated the title.

He made his UFC debut with a win against André Gusmão through unanimous decision.

Bones then went on to win two more matches, after which he suffered his first career loss.

Furthermore, his loos was very controversial as he was disqualified for an illegal elbow.

Although the fight should have been ruled as no contest, the officials ruled it a loss.

Even the UFC president pleaded the ruling to be overturned by appealing with Nevada State Athletic Commission. However, the ruling has not changed as of now.

UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and Title Striped

Following the loss, Bones returned to the octagon after three months, winning his tenth career fight.

Similarly, he went on to win two more fights after landing a title opportunity at UFC 128.

Further, he defeated Maurício Rua via punches and knees in the third round.

As a result, he became the youngest UFC Light Heavyweight Champion at just 23 years old. He then defended the title in 8 different title matches, winning all of them.

Hence, he earned a record for most consecutive title defenses in the UFC light heavyweight division.

Not to mention, he also became the longest-reigning light heavyweight champion.

Nonetheless, in April 2015, after his eight title defense fight, he was stripped of the title after violating the UFC’s Athlete Code.

Following the title strip, he returned after a year to compete for the interim UFC Light Heavyweight Championship against Ovince Saint Preux.

Likewise, he won the fight but was again stripped after testing positive for clomiphene and letrozole.

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Second Title Run, Vacate Title, and Retirement

Following his second title stripped, he returned in just over a year for another title opportunity.

Further, he faced Daniel Cormier for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.

Like the last time, he won the fight but was stripped of his title after a positive drug test.

Further, he returned after two years on December 29, 2018, to face Alexander Gustafsson.

In fact, this was also a title match for the vacant UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. Similarly, he defeated Gustafsson and won the title for the second time.

Not to mention, this was his third overall Light Heavyweight title win as UFC overturned his previous title victory.

Jon with this second title victory.
Bones winning his second UFC Light Heavyweight Championship on December 29, 2018.

Nevertheless, he successfully defended the title three times after voluntarily vacating it. To elaborate, he had a conflict with the UFC President regarding his pay rise in March 2020.

Since Jones wanted to move to the heavyweight division, he wanted UFC to increase his pay. However, the UFC was not willing to budge and was adamant about their decision.

Nonetheless, after receiving the denial, he deiced to retire.

Controversies

Illegal Eye Poking Move

During multiple fights, Jones received criticism for frequently poking his opponent in the eyes.

As a result, he shared a video on Instagram mocking fans by saying, “Jones put his finger in his eye. Dirtiest fighter in MMA“. Further, after backlash, he deleted the post instantly.

Following the backlash, the President of UFC, Dana White, commented that the poking move must be stopped.

Hence, the fighter himself, in an interview, claimed that it was not intentional rather than a reactionary move to maintain distance.

UFC 178 promotion Scuffle

During a promotional event for UFC 178, Jones and Daniel Cormier had an altercation that led to a Scuffle.

Furthermore, Jone initiated the scuffle by pressing his forehead against Cormier. Hence, Cormier retaliated by pushing to which Jones responded by throwing a punch.

Nonetheless, both fighters were retained by coaches and staff, and an investigation was held.

As a result of the investigation, the Nevada State Athletic Commission fined Jone $50,000.

Further, they also ordered him to undergo 40 hours of community service.

Moreover, during the disciplinary hearing, Jones claimed to have lost endorsement deals with Nike.

However, later officials discovered he was fabricating the statement.

Hit and Run Case

On April 27, 2015, Jones allegedly crashed his rental car into two vehicles and fled the scene. A pregnant woman was riding the other vehicle who was heavily injured.

Further, an off-duty police officer witnessed the incident. Similarly, the officer identified the suspect as a tall African-American man.

In fact, the officer said that the suspect ran back to the scene and grabbed cash from the vehicle before fleeing again.

Upon further investigation, the car was rented under the name “Jonathan Jones.” Likewise, police also found a pipe with marijuana inside it.

Thus, the MMA fighter was charged with a felony. Hence, he turned himself in after a surrender settlement made by his lawyers with law enforcement.

Nonetheless, after bail of $2,500, he left the Bernalillo County Metro Detention Center.

Furthermore, he made a court appearance on April 28, 2015, and did not enter a plea.

The UFC president flew to New Mexico from Las Vegas to meet with Jone, the current UFC Light Heavyweight champion.

Moreover, the same day UFC stripped him of the title, stating a violation of the Athlete Code of Conduct Policy.

Likewise, UFC also suspended the American fighter indefinitely.

On September 29, 2015, Jones admitted to fledging the scene of an accident. Henceforth, the court sentenced him to 18 months of supervised probation.

Doping and Sexual Battery

On the morning of May 19, 2012, the UFC fighter drove his car into a pole in Binghamton, New York. Thus, police officers arrested him for driving under the influence.

However, his mother bailed him out, and he pledged guilty to the offense. As a result, the court fined him $1000 and suspended his driving license for six months.

On July 21, 2019, the court charged Jones with sexual battery for an incident at a strip club. The report claimed he slapped a waitress and kissed her neck.

Further, he touched her even after she asked him to stop frequently. Likewise, he pleaded no contest and received a 90-day deferred sentence.

Moreover, on March 26, 2020, he again got arrested for driving under the influence. To elaborate, a police officer heard a gunshot, and upon investigation, found Jone driving a car under the influence.

After noticing signs of intoxication, the officer put Jone for a sobriety test, which he failed. Police then searched Bone’s vehicle and found a nearly empty bottle of tequila and a handgun.

Therefore, police arrested and charged him with aggravated driving under the influence. Nonetheless, the officials neglected the use of a firearm.

Four days later, he pledged guilty to the DWI charges, and the court sentenced him to four days of house arrest.

Failed Drug Test

On January 6, 2015, UFC announced that Jones had failed a drug test before UFC 182. Further, he tested positive for cocaine, and UFC fined him $25,000 on January 17, 2015.

Likewise, in an interview, he mentioned, that he was not addicted to cocaine but just made a silly mistake.

Moreover, another drug test done on July 8, 2016, showed he tested positive for two banned substances. As a result, UFC dropped him from the UFC 200 fight against Cormier.

However, he constantly claimed he was the victim of a contaminated product, Cialis. Upon further investigation, officials found his claim to be true.

Nonetheless, the United States Anti-Doping Agency still suspended him for a year.

Similarly, Jones again tested positive after his fight with Cormier at UFC 214 in 2017. Hence, UFC stripped him of his title for the third time and faced a 4-year suspension.

Later after providing information about a doping violation by another athlete, USADA reduced 30 months from his 4-year suspension.

Also, after proving that he was unintentionally drugged by supplements he took, USADA reduced the suspension by a margin of 3 months.

Following his suspension, he was eligible to fight and was scheduled on December 29, 2018. Nevertheless, he again failed a drug test done on December 23.

Later, experts discovered it to be the side effect of the medicine he took in 2017. Henceforth, he was eligible to fight the December 29 fight.

Achievements and Honors

  • Two-time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion from 2011 to 2015 and 2018 to 2020
  • At 23 years 242 days, he became the youngest fighter to win a UFC championship.
  • Most consecutive title defenses (Eight) in the UFC light heavyweight division with 8 defenses
  • Longest-reigning Light Heavyweight champion in UFC history for 1501 days
  • One-time Newcomer of the Year in 2009
  • Most consecutive wins (Thirteen) in the UFC light heavyweight division
  • NHSCA Senior All-American in 2005
  • Longest unbeaten streak in UFC history with 18 wins
  • One-time NYSPHSAA Division I Stated Championship in 2005
  • UFC Hall of Famer as of 2013
  • One-time Northeast Junior Greco-Roman Regional Championship in 2004
  • Three-time Fighter of the Year in 2011, 2012, and 2013
  • Most wins in UFC title fights with 14 title wins

Jon Jones: Marriage and Kids

Former UFC Lightweight Champion is not married as of now. Nevertheless, he is engaged to his long-time girlfriend, Jessie Moses.

Further, the couple met back in high school and started dating. Jessie was very supportive and was with him even before his MMA debut.

Likewise, the relationship grew stronger after Jessie got pregnant during her college years.

Hence, in 2008, the couple welcomed their first daughter, Leah, into the world.

Jon Jones's wife and daughter
The UFC star-fighter, enjoying time with his wife and three beautiful daughters.

Furthermore, they again welcomed their second child, Carmen, named after Jones’ sister, who died of brain cancer at a young age.

Thus, after having two children, Jones decided to propose somewhere around 2013.

Hence, the couple got engaged, but no details regarding their marriage are to be found.

However, the MMA fighter always referred to her as his wife and fiancee in multiple interviews.

Moreover, the couple also welcomed their third daughter, Olivia, the same year.

Jon Jones: Net Worth and Salary

The American fighter has built an enormous wealth amount throughout his MMA career.

Jones has accumulated a net worth of $20 million.

Similarly, his estimated salary amount is about $14,300,000 million. Not to mention, he has a career earning of approximately $5 million from his multiple UFC bouts.

On top of that, he had great endorsement deals with some of the top brands like Nike, Reebok, and MuscleTech.

However, the endorsement deals got terminated after he was convicted of doping, along with a hit and run case.

Nonetheless, he recently signed with GAT Supplements.

Moreover, the retired fighter was very generous in spending his money to uplift society through charity, such as donating money to food banks.

Likewise, he works with the feel-good campaign to raise money for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation.

All in all, the fighter lives a very comfortable life in a lavish house in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Furthermore, he also has a huge car collection which includes a Nissan Armada and Cadillac CTS-V.

In fact, he also owned a $190,000 Bentley Continental GT, which unfortunately got damaged in a car accident.

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Jon Jones: Social Media Presence

Jones is active on various social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Further, he has over 5.8 million followers on his Instagram handle.

Moreover, the athlete mostly posts pictures of him training in the gym. Likewise, he also has a Facebook account with over 3.4 million followers.

Further, he has shared pictures of his early fights, championships, and promotions.

Besides that, he has a Twitter account with over 2.6 million followers.

He mostly tweets about flight-related news. All in all, he loves to share his daily life on social media.

FAQS

What happened with Jon Jones?

The former UFC light-heavyweight champion recently announced his retirement after his failed negotiations with UFC to provide him a raise for moving up the heavyweight division.

Who did Jon Jones lose to?

Jones lost to Matt Hamill due to an illegal elbow that caused a dislocated shoulder for Hamill. As a result, the fighter was disqualified from the fight.

How Much Does Jon Jones make a fight?

Jone Jones makes a raving amount of $500,000 each UFC main card fight.

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