Dan Hardy column: Jon Jones being stripped by the UFC was the right thing, but it’s still a blow to have an iconic figure make poor decisions

This week, British UFC welterweight and UFC commentator, Dan Hardy, looks at the biggest talking point which saw the light-heavyweight champion stripped of his title after an alleged ‘hit and run’

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones (Getty Images)

Success in any line of work has the potential to corrupt the person enjoying it, and unfortunately Mixed Martial Arts is no different.

This week news broke that UFC light-heavyweight champion, Jon ‘Bones’ Jones had allegedly been involved in a hit and run incident, causing a three-car collision and leaving a woman with a broken arm. And when I say ‘hit and run’, I mean it!

According to reports, Jones was identified fleeing the scene on foot by an off-duty police officer. To make matters worse, he allegedly ran a red light and the injured woman is said to be pregnant. It also seems that he was driving a rental, so his attempt at a getaway didn’t really help as his rental agreement paperwork was supposedly left in the vehicle.

This all put the UFC in a very difficult position, having already scheduled ‘Bones’ to defend his belt against current number one contender, Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson. It’s a real blow to have such an iconic figure seemingly make poor decisions like this, not only because we now don’t get to see him fight for the foreseeable future, but it’s disappointing to watch as an athlete with so much potential gets in his own way and perhaps ruins his career in the process.

Alexander Gustafsson punches Jon Jones (JOSH HEDGES/ ZUFFA)

The UFC did the right thing and stripped Jones of his title and suspended him indefinitely. Daniel Cormier, rival and most recent challenger to ‘Bones’ belt, will now step in and face Anthony Johnson at UFC 187 on May 23rd.

Jones must now face the legal process and hope to resolve this without spending too long sitting on the side lines, watching his old belt get passed back and forth amongst his former challengers. Should this keep him out of action for more than a year or two though, the sport could pass him by and we will see a potential great throw it all away.

Jones defeated Cormier in his most recent defence (BRANDON MAGNUS / ZUFFA LLC)

In the meantime, the new match-up between Johnson and Cormier is fascinating. Johnson has massive punching power and a wrestling background, although his wrestling is nowhere near to the standard of former Olympian, Daniel Cormier. No time was wasted as Cormier already had a few words regarding Johnson, and the match-up is already promising to be a great battle.

Regardless of who wins, the question over whether or not Jones can or would reclaim his belt if or when he returns will remain. Hopefully he will get his act together and he’ll be able to answer that question for the sake of his fans. But as the man has said himself, he has some serious soul searching to do in the meantime.