Roundtables
ROUNDTABLE: Will UFC Champ Jon Jones will follow through on retirement by 30?
Nov 26, 2013 - 8:25:42 PM ROUNDTABLE: Will UFC Champ Jon Jones will follow through on retirement by 30?

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Do you think Jon Jones will actually follow through with retirement at 30? What would you like to see from him before then?


RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

I don't think I can answer what he "will do," what with me not having a crystal ball or Biff Tanner's betting guide that he stole from Marty McFly. I can answer what I would do in his shoes, and I can guess as to what he might do. But that's all it would be; just a random guess from someone who knows more or less than you know. I'm not willing to bullshit an answer and pretend it has any credibility whatsoever. But, to answer the two things I said I am able to do...

If I were in his shoes, I would soooooo be retired an lounging in front of a pool, bitching at the cabana girl about the bartenders trying to make me a daiquiri with sour mix.



Fight? What, me fight? Trade punches with Cain Velasquez? Ain't enough daiquiris in the world, mi amigo.

Of course gentle reader, all of the fluff above is a dodge, because I don't want to guess what Jones is going to do when he turns 30. I'm comfortable saying this much, though; the more often Floyd Mayweather makes $35,000,000 per fight, the less motivated Jones is going to be to make 10%-20% that amount per fight. Point being, if his salary grows exponentially, so will the target date for his eventual retirement.


FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

No, I don't think he retires at 30, though I think it won't be much longer after that when he actually does. I see him fighting until 32, 33, something like that. It does also depend on how much damage he takes in his fights up until then. If he goes through a bunch of wars, he'll be ready to retire sooner rather than later. I just want to see Jones keep fighting the way he has. If he wants to move to heavyweight, great. If not, great. He should do what he wants, whatever satisfies him as an athlete.


BRAD WALKER, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

If he's still performing at his peak no way in hell. He's shown himself to be a bit of a cocky guy who likes the lifestyle (See: Bentley), but if his skills slide or he suffers a nasty injury sure, he could walk away at a young age. However, the guys he has said he looks up to kept themselves at a high level well into their 30s and beyond, so I don't believe it for a second, Jones is a lifer.


CAMERON LYMAN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

I absolutely do. Jon has the look and charisma to transcend MMA stardom. But before he goes, I want to see him win the heavyweight belt. That is really the only left for him to accomplish.


KALE HAVERVOLD, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

I doubt it. By then he will undoubtedly be the face of the UFC with GSP and Silva gone, and I bet Dana White and the UFC will do anything and everything they can to keep him around. And when you are getting that much money and game thrown your way, it can be hard to walk away. One thing I would like to see before he retires is for him to compete at heavyweight and even make a run for a title depending on his success at heavyweight.


JAMIE PENICK, MMATORCH EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

It really does come down to how satisfied Jones feels in fighting by that point. He's been fighting for five years, by 30 it will be a solid nine to ten years in the sport, so it's not as if he'll be leaving anything on the table. Jones has been so good so quickly that he's just an absolutely unique story in this sport. If he feels he's accomplished everything he can by 30, I think he will walk away, as he seems like the type of person who will be able to move on to something else and not be stuck in one thing forever. Many fighters only have this sport and no other options for them to make that type of money, whereas Jones is going to have more and more things open up to him by the time he hits 30. Enjoy watching him while you can, because there's every reason to believe he's serious in this desire to leave by 30.

[Jon Jones art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]