Jones' talent has never been the question, he is a remarkably gifted fighter, but there has been some of rumblings behind the scenes about some of Jones' behavior outside the cage. In a recent interview with Sergio Non of USA Today, Jones said that he has changed:
When you say your maturity has changed, what does that mean?
In the past, I would have a few nights where me and the guys would want to go out and hang out for awhile, come home a little late, feel sluggish in the morning. I don't have any of those things any more.
Or eating the things that I shouldn't be eating. Eating past a certain time at night. I stopped doing those type of things.
I've just matured a lot. I've grown a lot, and I noticed it. The way I push myself, and how serious I take game-planning. I just feel better.
I think I'm acting like a champion now instead of someone who wants to be a champion. I just expect more from myself, I guess.
It sounds like this realization that you've had came with winning the belt, like, "Hey, I'm the champ, I need to act differently." Is that a fair characterization?
Not necessarily act differently, but just stop playing games with myself. Stop being a nonsense individual.
One of the other highlights of the discussion is Jones saying that he understands why people have the impression that he lacks power (no straight KOs, just TKOs) and says "Maybe I don't have knockout power. But I do know that I have enough power to break down a human body, and that's what I try to do."In the past, I would have a few nights where me and the guys would want to go out and hang out for awhile, come home a little late, feel sluggish in the morning. I don't have any of those things any more.
Or eating the things that I shouldn't be eating. Eating past a certain time at night. I stopped doing those type of things.
I've just matured a lot. I've grown a lot, and I noticed it. The way I push myself, and how serious I take game-planning. I just feel better.
I think I'm acting like a champion now instead of someone who wants to be a champion. I just expect more from myself, I guess.
It sounds like this realization that you've had came with winning the belt, like, "Hey, I'm the champ, I need to act differently." Is that a fair characterization?
Not necessarily act differently, but just stop playing games with myself. Stop being a nonsense individual.
SBN coverage of UFC 135: Jones vs. Rampage