"It's very illegal, but I do it" - When Jon Jones openly admitted to using strictly banned MMA move in UFC fights
Jon Jones once admitted that he knows he illegally eye pokes his opponents during fights but would continue to do it as it gave him an advantage.
'Bones' is currently set to return to the octagon for the first time in over a year when he faces Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 this weekend. The pair will headline the card that takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York City, with the bout also marking his first defence of the heavyweight title.
Whilst Jones is considered by many to be the greatest MMA fighter in history, his performances in the cage have sometimes been marred by the illegal actions he tries to get away with.
He was most famouly handed his only loss due to a disqualification for landing a 12-6 elbow. And in many of his fights, Jones has been handed warnings for keeping his fingers out and eye poking his opponents.
Back in 2015, Jon Jones was asked about his consistent eye poking during an interview for the The Hurt Business documentary. The 37-year-old then admitted he knows it is illegal but continues to do it as a way of defending himself. He said:
"I do poke people in the eyes and it's very illegal but I do it. I react to people trying to punch me in the face by sticking my hand out and pushing their face away...If someone's coming at me, I just put my hand on their forehead...Sometimes it lands in people's eyes. People hate that...But now I'm kind of known for it. It is what it is."
Check out Jones' comments here:
Tom Aspinall says Jon Jones is "scared" of losing to him
Tom Aspinall believes Jon Jones is afraid to face him, after 'Bones' once again dismissed the idea of fighting him after his bout against Stipe Miocic.
During UFC 309 media day this week, Jones was faced with a host of questions in regard to his future and potentially facing Aspinall. The 37-year-old played down any chance of it happening, however, and instead stated that he's more interested in relinquishing the heavyweight title to seek a bout against Alex Pereira.
Aspinall has since responded with a video on his YouTube channel, where he called out Jones' hypocrisy. In the video, the Mancunian inserted a quote of Jon Jones saying:
"You're beating guys who aren't even champions and you consider yourself a champion. He's not a champion."
Aspinall then responded:
"So Jon said I need to fight more champions, but this is the problem I've got. Jon is the champion, and he won't fight me...Jon, if you're not into gambling your legacy, that to me sounds like you're scared of losing against me."
Catch Tom Aspinall's comments here (7:40)