Official UFC Thread

[Paroxysm]

UFC Champion Jon Jones Won't Autograph Your Replica Belt

Josh Zerkle asked Jon what the one thing he would change about the sport is and he gave one of the most obnoxious and self-important answers possible:

JONES: It's a silly one. I would get rid of the replica belts.

Like the ones they sell at the events?


JONES: Yeah. I hate it when people come up to me with a belt that looks exactly like mine and they ask me to sign it. I worked three times a day for three years to get this [light heavyweight championship] belt, and now this guy asking me for an autograph has one just like it. Are you serious? I mean it's not as heavy, but it looks just the same.

I like that. I don't think it's silly at all.


JONES: I never sign those belts.
​

Unless a fan is walking up to Jon and claiming that he also "earned" his replica belt, it's such an extremely petty thing for a fighter to care about.

For a sport where everyone takes such pride in the accessibility of its athletes, this is an answer that is below what I'd expect from event he most jaded of "mainstream" sports stars.

I don't recall ever hearing an established NFL, MLB, NBA, etc. star refuse to sign a jersey because they'd worked since they were little kids to play ball at the highest level. They touch in the interview a little on the fact that there's no merchandising rights for the fighters, but for Jones to act like a fan wanting his autograph on a piece of memorabilia should suffer because MMA agents have never had the strength (or ability) to better pursue the merchandising and licensing issue is a rather weak move on his part.

I don't even know what to say.......

 

[B]

What a fool..

I really, really hope Rampage can knock Jon Jones out & knock him back into the real world. Hes a fighter I want to like badly but I just can't get past the fact that he seems like a right tool..

 

[Bubonic]

I don't see what is so wrong with what he said.
It isn't the same as a football jersey.

All that distinguishes a jersey is the name and the number and every player gets one.
I doubt he minds signing mma shorts similar to his.

UFC belts are hard won and sought after, much blood sweat and tears go into acquiring one and it should be something special and not run of the mill merchandise.

Fans are such fickle ****s, always turning on fighters at the drop of the dime.

 

[E-Man]

A replica belt us basically a toy. It's not as serious as Jones is saying. I'm still a fan, but he's being very arrogant here.

 

[El Bastardo]

Replica belts are stupid. He's making a bigger deal out of them than he should, but I can't seem to care. The personal views and/or feelings of fighters really have nothing to do with whether I like them as fighters or not.

 

[TheVileOne]

I see a lot of kids who have their own mini-replica belts. He seriously wouldn't sign one at at autograph session?

They are just a fun souvenir if you can afford it, what is the big deal? Jones ego is a little out of control.

 

[Bubonic]

You've got to have a pretty big ego to be a world class fighter.
He sounded like he meant replicas that are almost spot on, not mini kid ones.

 

[El Bastardo]

Spoons has a full wall of WWE replica belts.

True story.

 

[misjuevos]

it's a shame the ufc was/is trying so hard to build up jones name to the outside world. now lets see if they have to do some damage control for him, lol. was this more jokingly said by jones or was he really serious about it? it could just be a joke that went over the interviewers head. either way i wasn't a fan of him nor did i hate him, i just never thought of him really. i am just indifferent towards him.

 

[ShrinkingMan]

Jon Jones acts like such a prom queen. He's an excellent fighter. Then he does stuff like stop car thefts. Next thing he's ducking Rashad and now he says stuff like this. He seems so fake.

 

[B]

I don't see what is so wrong with what he said.
It isn't the same as a football jersey.

All that distinguishes a jersey is the name and the number and every player gets one.
I doubt he minds signing mma shorts similar to his.

UFC belts are hard won and sought after, much blood sweat and tears go into acquiring one and it should be something special and not run of the mill merchandise.

Fans are such fickle ****s, always turning on fighters at the drop of the dime.

No, it's exactly the same as a football, basketball, baseball, gridiron, rugby jersey. Some people spend their whole life working towards just even putting on a particular teams first team jersey.. certainly just as hard, or in some cases even harder than fighters would work to win a particular belt.

I don't think I've ever seen or heard of an athelete that has refused to sign a fans replica jersey (or form of mercendise) on the basis that the fan didn't earn their jersey or piece of official equipment.. It's an incredibly arrogant comment, something that Jones is getting abit of a reputation for.

A good & devastating knockout, submission or decision lose will teach him some humility.. it's something hes gonna need to get him an all round fanbase & not just a fighting one.

 

[TheVileOne]

You've got to have a pretty big ego to be a world class fighter.
He sounded like he meant replicas that are almost spot on, not mini kid ones.

The people who make the replica belts also make junior sized ones for kids as well because kids also like them. And they are pretty spot on.

 

[Bubonic]

No, it's exactly the same as a football, basketball, baseball, gridiron, rugby jersey. Some people spend their whole life working towards just even putting on a particular teams first team jersey.. certainly just as hard, or in some cases even harder than fighters would work to win a particular belt.

I understand what you're saying and I think I know where you're coming from but you're still wrong in your assessment that it is exactly the same.

It is more akin to a SuperBowl, Stanley Cup or Olympic gold medal.

Fighters spend their whole fighting careers trying to get into the UFC, much the same as a football player will strive to get into a particular team or get drafted somewhere in the NFL.

From there the goal is reaching that pinnacle of greatness. So the jersey is a big deal, it's the foot in the door, but a lot make it into the big leagues and can't make anything happen of it, that is when the real challenges begin.

So it's two different beast.

 

[Paroxysm]

They way I see it is like this; Jon Jones was handed a title shot, it was even a shock to him when it was announced. Maybe that's why it bugs him seeing people walking around with "belts they didn't earn", maybe he feel like he truly hasn't earned his?

 

[ShrinkingMan]

it's a replica. he knows that, the fans know that. this isn't showing his principles, it's shows his lack of humility. This isn't even a fun type of arrogance to watch, like it's fun to boo Sonnen or Mayweather. I could go on with everything I don't like about this guy... but i gotta admit he's fun to watch.

 

[Bubonic]

It's all happening very fast for him, such a young talented guy.
Of course some humble pie is good for any fighter's evolution.

 

[Paroxysm]

"Je signerai votre ceinture"

 

[B]

I understand what you're saying and I think I know where you're coming from but you're still wrong in your assessment that it is exactly the same.

It is more akin to a SuperBowl, Stanley Cup or Olympic gold medal.

Fighters spend their whole fighting careers trying to get into the UFC, much the same as a football player will strive to get into a particular team or get drafted somewhere in the NFL.

From there the goal is reaching that pinnacle of greatness. So the jersey is a big deal, it's the foot in the door, but a lot make it into the big leagues and can't make anything happen of it, that is when the real challenges begin.

So it's two different beast.

Not in my eyes it isn't.

For example, most people don't grow up thinking I want to be a FIFA World Cup winner. They grow up thinking & dreaming about putting on the jersey of their national team alone which in itself is an amazing achievement, nevermind any actual glory that would come along with doing so like winning a FIFA World Cup or whatever. Would it then not be arrogant of a particular international team member to then refuse to sign any fans that come up to him/her to sign their replica jersey, tracksuit top or whatever on the basis that they've not earned the right to wear said piece of replica equipment..?

It's exactly the same situation in my eyes, people work their whole lives to just put on a particular teams jersey alone, anything that comes after is no more relivent than the hardships & effort put into getting to wear the jersey of their favourite team, national team etc.

As well, I can't imagine a fighter would grow up dreaming of ONLY fighting for the UFC.. They'd grow up dreaming & wanting to be the greatest, a title holder, pound for pound king. They wouldn't dream of fighting for an MMA promotion.. if they are, they are destined for failure if their goal is to only fight for a particular promotion.

 

[Bubonic]

"Je signerai votre ceinture"

J'avoue, t:.

Not in my eyes it isn't.

For example, most people don't grow up thinking I want to be a FIFA World Cup winner. They grow up thinking & dreaming about putting on the jersey of their national team alone which in itself is an amazing achievement, nevermind any actual glory that would come along with doing so like winning a FIFA World Cup or whatever. Would it then not be arrogant of a particular international team member to then refuse to sign any fans that come up to him/her to sign their replica jersey, tracksuit top or whatever on the basis that they've not earned the right to wear said piece of replica equipment..?

It's exactly the same situation in my eyes, people work their whole lives to just put on a particular teams jersey alone, anything that comes after is no more relivent than the hardships & effort put into getting to wear the jersey of their favourite team, national team etc.

As well, I can't imagine a fighter would grow up dreaming of ONLY fighting for the UFC.. They'd grow up dreaming & wanting to be the greatest, a title holder, pound for pound king. They wouldn't dream of fighting for an MMA promotion.. if they are, they are destined for failure if their goal is to only fight for a particular promotion.

UFC is monopolizing bigtime, they've always aimed to be what the NFL is to football, what the NHL is to hockey, et cetera.

Why would you be destined to fail for striving to be in the most competitive promotion? When you decide to make any sport your life you're striving to be the best there is, compete against the best, obviously there is a progressions to make, you don't get out of the dojo and try your hand at the toughest promotion.

And yes, I understand when you're training, especially to be part of a team sport your goal isn't necessarily to be part of the winning team, it might be to represent your country or your state.

MMA is a very individualistic sport, there is a team aspect to it, you represent the ones that craft you, you better yourself and your teammates through constant work and dedication to your art, but at the end of the day you're basically doing it for yourself, you want that belt, you want that recognition, you want to be the best there is.

Sure there are a lot of fighters that fight because they love to fight, but most aren't settling on being stepping stones for other fighters.

I'll concede that Jon Jones was a bit of a prick and being difficult but my opinion on the matter is that you don't know what you're talking about.

 

[Paroxysm]

MMA is a very individualistic sport, there is a team aspect to it, you represent the ones that craft you, you better yourself and your teammates through constant work and dedication to your art, but at the end of the day you're basically doing it for yourself, you want that belt, you want that recognition, you want to be the best there is.

I'd save my "secret moves" for the cage. t:

 

[Bubonic]

For sure, if you've got hold of an amazing and unpredictable technique you'll basically have one shot at it before it goes mainstream.
Wow them with it then teach your teammates.

 

[DoomsdayApex]

Jon Jones = Arrogant Tool

Never liked him as a person (great fighter), I really hope Jackson knocks him out... unlikely but here's hoping.

 

[B]

Why would you be destined to fail for striving to be in the most competitive promotion? When you decide to make any sport your life you're striving to be the best there is, compete against the best, obviously there is a progressions to make, you don't get out of the dojo and try your hand at the toughest promotion.

Perhaps 'destined for failure' would be too strong a term, but in a sport like MMA your dreams should be on being a champion, the undisputed champion, pound for pound king or something along those lines.. It shouldn't be that you merely want to fight in the same organisation as the best fighters in the world. It somewhat suggests that your dream was only to set foot in the cage with someone like Anderson Silva & not actually take his belt.. at least that's what I think that sort of comment would suggest.

And yes, I understand when you're training, especially to be part of a team sport your goal isn't necessarily to be part of the winning team, it might be to represent your country or your state.

The team sport aspect is irrelevant. Your dream would be to wear the shirt of your favourite team, your home nation or whatever in the same way Jon Jones dream was to wear a UFC title.

I appreciate what your saying, I just think you are wrong.

At the end of the day Jon Jones said that he wouldn't sign one of those replica belts because the fan in question asking for the signature hadn't earned the belt, this would be no different from say Reggie Bush refusing to sign Saints jersey because the fan hadn't earned the right to be wearing it.

I'll concede that Jon Jones was a bit of a prick and being difficult but my opinion on the matter is that you don't know what you're talking about.

Well ironically, I wouldn't be that much of a prick to say this to you as we all are entitled to our opinions.

 

[Colossal Spoons]

Spoons has a full wall of WWE replica belts.

True story.

Ha, I don't have $300 to waste

 

[Colossal Spoons]

Overeem Pulled from Strikeforce Heavyweight GP

In a surprising turn of events, Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem has been removed from the promotion’s 2011 heavyweight grand prix.

Brazilian website Tatame.com broke the news Monday, only hours after Overeem made strong remarks regarding his rumored Sept. 10 semifinal matchup against Antonio Silva.

“That is not going to take place,” Overeem stated in a Monday interview with MMAFighting.com. “What’s going to happen next, I don’t know. I’ve had some threats of cutting me out of the tournament if I don’t participate. I don’t know if they’re going to do it. Personally, I don’t like to be threatened.”

Overeem went on to state that he felt the September date was too soon for him to return, and that he needed time to rest and heal after his June 18 quarterfinal decision win over Fabricio Werdum. The 31-year-old Dutchman’s words apparently did not sit well with the brass at Strikeforce and parent company Zuffa, LLC, who on Monday swapped out Overeem for unbeaten up-and-comer Daniel Cormier.

Sherdog.com has confirmed with Silva’s manager, Alex Davis, that his client will no longer fight Overeem.

“Unfortunately, it’s true,” Davis told Sherdog.com. “Overeem decided not to fight. We don’t know why, but Antonio is pretty much disappointed. ... I can’t confirm who will replace Overeem, but I can guarantee Antonio will be ready. He just arrived in Rio de Janeiro to train with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and his team for the upcoming fight.”

Silva, 31, currently rides a three-fight win streak in the Strikeforce cage. In February, the Brazilian “Bigfoot” stunned former Pride Fighting Championships heavyweight ruler Fedor Emelianenko, battering the Russian great to force a medical stoppage after two rounds.

A former U.S. Olympic wrestling team captain, 32-year-old Cormier has turned away all comers since beginning his MMA career in 2009. The American Kickboxing Academy fighter is 3-0 in Strikeforce, most recently notching a unanimous decision over tough veteran Jeff Monson in June.