![]() He called Jones "chicken" a number of times, compared him to a Chick-fil-A sandwich and said repeatedly that Jones would be afraid to fight him. The former four-time All-American wrestler at Penn State seemed to be angling for a title shot as he launched an over-the-top round of trash talk about Jones. So, I'm just trying to stay positive and try not to offend too many people along the way and hope for the best end result."ĭavis - who fights Anthony Johnson in Saturday's co-main event - wasn't taking the same approach Thursday. ![]() Floyd Mayweather was hated, and a lot of people are really coming around on him. "Muhammad Ali was hated, and then he was loved at the very end. "As long as I'm taking care of my family and breaking records and continuing to excel and continuing to find new endoresments - everything's working. "On the way to this point it has been, just always wondering, 'Why aren't I a fan favorite? Why am I getting criticized so hard all the time?' But at this point, it's really not painful at all," he said. But - like he does with opponents using his 7-foot wingspan - he's learning to keep those distractions at a safe distance. Jones acknowledges there was a time when it did hurt that he wasn't more widely embraced. I just need to embrace it and be comfortable with it." Maybe it'll change over time, but right now I'm not. "I've gotten to the point now where I realize I'm not going to be a fan favorite. And now I have him comparing himself to me and trying to stay relevant through me. "Just a few years ago I was a young kid in college looking at Chuck Liddell with my mouth wide open and looking at him like he was a god. "I just look at it as flattery, really," Jones said when asked about those comments Thursday. UFC legend Chuck Liddell was one of the latest to take a swipe at Jones, telling Fox Sports this week that he would have "walked through his punches" if he fought Jones in his prime. Jones felt a wave of respect when he visited the Ravens' facility to give the team a pep talk in November, but he hasn't gotten the same reception in the MMA community. Jones said some of Arthur's former Ravens teammates are expected to attend the fight, though he wouldn't say who. "He said, 'Hey, how about Baltimore?' and I jumped all over the opportunity." "Dana White and I, we were having a lot of disagreements about when I would fight next," Jones said. The chance to headline the first UFC card in this city is the reason he said he took this fight. But Jon said he doesn't think that will affect how he's received Saturday night. Regardless of his opponent, Jones is motivated to put on a show in Baltimore, where his parents, Arthur and younger brother Chandler Jones of the New England Patriots will be in attendance.Īrthur left Baltimore for the Indianapolis Colts last month, signing a five-year, $33 million deal right at the start of free agency. "Jon Jones, he's not invincible," said Teixeira, a 34-year-old power puncher from Brazil. He pledged that won't be the case against Teixeira, a huge underdog, but one who is 22-2 and hasn't lost since 2005. ![]() Jones admits he wasn't in the best shape heading into that fight, and that he underestimated Gustafsson. And when you go through something like that, it changes you." I guarantee those two guys felt like they were closer to death than ever that night. He was in deep waters, and he kept fighting. Then he went in against Gustafsson and that fight was a war. "The guy had never been in a fight like that in his life. ![]()
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