Jon Jones recently spoke about Conor McGregor’s tough loss to Nate Diaz at UFC 196. The former light heavyweight champ says he has ‘mixed feelings’ about the whole situation, but he states he is ‘glad it happened’ for multiple reasons.
“A part of me thinks it’s a good thing he was humbled,” Jones said. “Right before he lost, he was getting into conversations about fighting anybody, anywhere, saying things like I could beat anybody, any weight class they’re in.”
“I was getting fans writing me messages asking ‘How would you do against McGregor?'” he said. “I was like ‘C’mon guys, you can’t be serious. I’m a 220 lb, 9-time world champion. You really think he’d even be a match?’ Some people really believed that he can beat anyone at any weight class.”
Must Reads
Sonnen: McGregor is still the UFC’s biggest star
Chael Sonnen believes Conor McGregor was always a bigger star than Ronda Rousey.
Jon Jones jabs at McGregor’s P4P ranking
After McGregor’s loss, Jon Jones and Demetrious Johnson took a shot at Conor for his pound-for-pound comments earlier in the week.
Must Reads
“So I’m glad that it happened,” he continued. “It allowed the fans to have that reality check, that alright, maybe that guy isn’t unbeatable — stuff that us professional fighters knew the whole time.”
Jones then went on to explain the other reason he’s happy to see the UFC featherweight champ take a loss.
“Then another side of me, is glad to see him lose, because I’m positive this is actually going to bring out the best in him,” he said. “After defeat, you really start closing holes in your game, you start questioning your training to become better.”
“As a fan of McGregor, I want to see him have longevity in this sport. Guys like Conor McGregor, they symbolize our sport’s future. Conor McGregor is getting fans from all over the world, who tune in and actually don’t watch the UFC, they just watch Conor fight. We need guys like Conor McGregor be successful.”
“So yeah, I’m a fan of his, but I just have mixed feelings about his loss.”
Shortly after UFC 196, Jones took to social media to take a dig at Conor for his past comments about being the top pound-for-pound fighter in Mixed Martial Arts.
About the author
