UFC 151's Jon Jones Screwed Everyone, Including Himself, By Making What He Thought Was The 'Right' Decision

Jon Jones screwed up in a major way today, but for all the wrong reasons.

His reasons.

This is not the second stop in the hate train or a disingenuous opportunity to pile on for the sake of clickety-clicks. I just think the kid has, is (and hopefully will stop) been trying so friggin' hard to do what he thinks is "smart" and "business savvy."

It ain't working homie, and today he had an opportunity to turn it all around, but he failed. Miserably.

"Bones" wants to be many things. We know this because he's pretty open about it, whether it's "business savvy," God-fearing, legendary mixed martial arts (MMA) champion, family man, company man (believe it), super hero or just all around swell guy.

Fill in the blank, if it's perceived as the "cool" or a socially-acceptable thing to do from a broad, public spectrum, chances are you'll find Jones all up in that bitch.

Problem? It's obvious, painfully obvious: He tries too hard to do what he thinks is "right" or "smart." Talk about being a "role model" one day, get busted for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) the next. His former training partner, Rashad Evans, might have been onto something when he branded Jones a phony.

Maybe he is, maybe he isn't, but who the hell cares. Jones certainly doesn't, so why should we.

He's a certifiable ass-kicker, good looking, ridiculously talented, marketable -- just ask Nike -- and perhaps all the things HE really thinks he is or wants to be. It's his world, like it or not, we're just along for the ride because he keeps winning fucking fights.

Yet, he still can't get over with a majority of fight fans with the way in which he wants to live his life or the way he wants to be perceived. Don't like the man? Sheesh, well, how can you not like his results in the Octagon?

Still, he struggles with his popularity. Mightily.

The funny thing is Jones, 25-years-old, could have tipped the skeptical and annoyed public perception in his favor had he accepted a short-notice fight with Chael Sonnen. The same Sonnen who Jones warned days earlier "would not talk himself" into a 205-pound title fight.

Oh, but he did just that when Dan Henderson hurt his knee. And for whatever reason that didn't square right with Jones or his logical trainer and MMA shaman, Greg Jackson, whether it was the sheer principle or the fact that the dynamic duo simply didn't feel it was in THEIR best interests.

But, win or lose, it was not just in their best interests, but for everyone else not named "Hendo" or Lyoto Machida. UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre perhaps said it best (insert cute French Canadian accent):

Analysis by paralysis.

Jones and Co. are so spun up in trying to do what is "smart" or "logical" or the "right" thing. But, everyone involved in the decision to refuse the fight with Sonnen didn't see the forest through the frickin' trees. Blinded by God, perhaps, I have no idea.

Let's break down the reality of the reality that was lost on the overthinking "good" guys.

Worst Case Scenario (Jones loses)

• Sonnen's promotional genius
• More pay-per-view (PPV) buys
• UFC 151 lives!
• Dana White is happy
• Fans are happy
• DWI. What DWI?
• Bonus grease (not the cooking kind)
• Real "Rematch of the Century" (Sorry, Anderson Silva)

Best Case Scenario (Jones wins)

• Sonnen's promotional genius
• More pay-per-view (PPV) buys
• UFC 151 lives!
• Dana White is happy
• Fans are happy
• DWI. What DWI?
• Bonus grease (not the cooking kind)
• Rematch? Pfft ... Sonnen is a stiff. His loud mouth would be neutered across two divisions in the span of six weeks!

Notwithstanding which side of the Sonnen fence you fall, a win for Jones -- who in this writer's opinion would whip him from pillar to post -- would actually appear to be, financially speaking, his actual worst case scenario.

Yet, in his 20-something genius, he chose his absolute worst option, turning down the fight, which sent the dominoes crashing, alienating fight fans further, pissing off his boss, going down in history as the only PPV fight card killer -- and all the livelihoods of fellow fighters and their families it affected -- because he thought he was being "smart" and "business savvy." Last, and certainly least, he also gave Sonnen everything he wanted, trash talk material, for the next 12 months (at least).

Jones might be many things, but his decision today proves that he is simply young and dumb. But, it's because he thinks he is doing what is best for him, his family and those who surround him ... even if he really is not.

There is no real fault in thinking you are doing what is in your best interests, only to have shit explode in your face. We all do it at some point or another in our lives, just not under such an intense and unforgiving microscope ... and likely not as often as Jones.

Live and learn.

However, before we part ways, let's also remember that Jones was forced into this terrible situation because Henderson blew out his knee and because White is staging way too many events this year. He is actually the innocent victim of circumstance, considering he defended his title an astounding four times in just 13 months.

Say what you want about Jones, even call him a coward, but the kid can fight and he has more often, more recently, than any other champion.

Just not on Sept. 1, 2012.

Jones flat-out screwed up today ... a day that could have been his pivot point, failing to realize the immense opportunity dropped into his lap. He made a silly short-sighted decision, failing to see what was really "right" for him and everyone else. Oh well ... it's his life, we're just along for the immature ride.

Clean and (somewhat) sober.