"Everyone thinks they’re gonna be Conor McGregor” - Craig Jones sounds off on harsh reality of being a UFC fighter
Craig Jones is one of the biggest figures in the world of submission grappling. However, the work he has done with several UFC champions, including Alexander Volkanovski, has introduced the Australian to the larger MMA fanbase. Jones has worked as Volkanovski's grappling coach since 2021, and has observed several dynamics that exist in the MMA world.
During a recent interview with Alex Wendling, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt unpacked the harsh reality of being an MMA fighter. Particularly, Jones circled around the actuality of what being a UFC fighter is like. He said:
"I would say that most of the time when people move to the UFC, they're thinking about their own bank accounts, more or less. Even if that is based on correct or incorrect information, or their understanding about how combat sports works as a whole. I do agree that having the UFC attached to your name is incredible. Again, most people who started jiu-jitsu are massive MMA fans. And the reason that the UFC is such a dominant force in the MMA world is because it's been every kid's dream that they want to be a part of the UFC."
Jones continued:
"The sad realization is everyone thinks they're gonna be Conor McGregor, they're going to make Conor McGregor money, they're gonna get Conor McGregor stardom. But, there's only one Conor McGregor. The stars of the UFC, it's tough out there. MMA as a whole is not a very high-paying sport."
Check out Craig Jones' comments on being a UFC fighter below (0:25):
Craig Jones explains the brutal side of being a UFC cornerman
Craig Jones began working with Alexander Volkanovski in 2021 prior to Volkanovski's clash with submission specialist Brian Ortega at UFC 266. The BJJ black belt has since been a permanent fixture in the corner of 'The Great'. As such, he has witnessed the highs and lows that come with elite MMA, and cornering fighters you care about.
Jones was recently interviewed by Chris Williamson, where he unpacked the reality of being a UFC cornerman, saying:
"I really don't like cornering MMA fights because you more feel relief that your guy got out of there healthy and okay. One thing MMA doesn't show enough is how badly hurt these guys are after the fight. Quite often the camera will avoid the guy that's unconscious for three minutes.From a coach's perspective, from a friend's perspective, when you see your guy unconscious for a concerningly long amount of time, that's a traumatic experience."
Check out Craig Jones' comments below (1:17:00):