It's hard to imagine that the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world lacks popularity, but for UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones that is exactly the case. Despite him run the past four years, Jones remains highly unpopular with mixed martial arts fans.
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Jones became the longest-reigning champion in the history of the light heavyweight division as of Aug. 31. At just 25 years old, "Bones" is undoubtedly on his way to a Hall of Fame career and could possibly be known as the best mixed martial artist ever. But he's constantly seen as a villain, usually getting booed whenever he's introduced. UFC commentator Joe Rogan said he believes that is due to racism.
"I don't know why Jon is not more loved or popular than he is," Rogan said on his podcast Monday, according to MMAFighting.com. "I don't understand it. In my opinion, I will never miss a Jon Jones f---ing pay-per-view. I've heard people say, 'Oh, he's cocky. He's this and [that].' I wonder what the f--k is going on with that and I'm going to throw this out there, I'm just going to say it: I wonder how much of it is racism. I really do.
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"You know why? Because I think they look at him as this cocky black guy and I think a lot of people have an issue with that," Rogan continued. "I think that if he was a white guy and he was doing the same thing, a la a Chael Sonnen, I think he would be way more popular. Chael was never the successful athlete that Jon is, but I think Chael was way more successful as a promoter than Jon is. Jon has not been nearly as cocky or outwardly braggadocious as Chael was."
Fans, media and fellow fighters all have different opinions on Jones, but the overwhelming belief is that he carries a fake persona as a humble champion. Daniel Cormier, who will fight Jones for the title on Jan. 3 at UFC 182, called him out on it last month.
I think discussing these controversial topics is important, and trying to have a nuanced perspective on race issues could benefit all of us.
— Joe Rogan (@joerogan) September 10, 2014
"I think people want a guy who is so physically gifted and young and brash and black and rich, they want him to have more humility or fake humility, as it were," Rogan said. "I think Jon's trying that a little bit and that's one of the reasons Daniel Cormier was like, 'You are so fake.' Cormier was saying that to him because I think he's trying to counteract how people feel about him."
After receiving a rash of responses to his comments, Rogan took to Twitter on Wednesday to state that he was greatly misquoted.
"I've been misquoted left and right about Jon Jones lack of popularity. I said 'I wonder how much of it is racism' key words," Rogan said. "I didn't say Jon Jones isn't more popular because everyone that dislikes him is racist. It's a subject for debate and discussion, that's it.
"It's just ridiculous that legitimate mainstream outlets have misquoted me in the very title of their articles for 'click bait.'"
How do you view Jones' persona? Let us know at @SportsWN and @doricsam83.
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