Jon Jones: Anthony Smith Talks Good Game, But His ‘Lip Was Quivering’
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones will make an incredibly quick turnaround to face Anthony Smith in the main event of this weekend’s (Sat., March 2, 2019) UFC 235 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. “Lionheart” has been brash and bold in the lead-up to the fight, yet Jones thinks that could be false confidence due to his lip trembling during their faceoff yesterday.
Jones spoke up about what he saw during yesterday’s UFC 235 media day in an interview with MMA Fighting (via MMA Mania). According to the controversial-yet-historic champ, Smith talks a ‘really good game.’ But when it comes down to it, he was apparently nervous as Jones saw his lip trembling when they stared one another down.
To Jones, UFC 235 could be a dangerous fight for him as a result:
“I saw his lip trembling a little bit. I’m not sure, maybe he’s really nervous. He actually talks a really good game, but his lip was quivering. I’m not saying he’s scared, but it says that emotionally, he is like, he’s a guy where this fight means everything to him. That’s a dangerous place to be in. When a fight means too much to you, that’s a dangerous place to be.”
Unquestioned GOAT
His match with Smith is only one fight, however. He’s planning on defending his title up to four times in 2019 in order to make up for lost time. If he does that, he says, there will be no question that he’s the greatest MMA fighter of all-time. Former UFC flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson is up there in Jones’ eyes, but he didn’t face the kinds of legends whom he beat, a fair point:
“Man, honestly, I feel like if I fight four times this year, win all four fights, I don’t think you could argue it. I think the argument would be just over. Where I’m at right now, it’s hard to debate, resume wise. I just don’t think anyone’s been able to fight the level of competition that I’ve fought- and that’s not these guys’ fault.
“Demetrious Johnson, for example- it’s not his fault he didn’t have legends in his division. But I did have legends in my division, and I’ve beaten them all, at a very young age at that. Continue to do it 10 years into it. I know who I am.”
Getting Out Of His Way
For all of his records and wins in the cage, it has been only Jones who can stand in his own way. He’s done plenty of that, and performance-enhancing drug scandals continue to haunt him to this day.
On the other side of the coin, if he can stay clean and defend his title as many times as he’s planning to, then GOAT status is undoubtedly his for the taking. It’s an extreme dichotomy of spectrums, as “Bones” may not have too many USADA suspensions left to wriggle out of. The Jon Jones saga rolls on this weekend, and the stakes are high.
Will 2019 be the year he truly gets back on track and fulfills his full potential?
