Jon Jones reveals he would get ‘blacked-out drunk’ before fights - ‘It was a mental crutch’

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight (interim) champion — and arguably the most talented mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter of all time — Jon Jones (22-1), has been through a lot well before he defeated arch-rival Daniel Cormier back at UFC 182 in Jan. 2015.

Don’t feel too sorry for the man, however, considering he’s brought virtually everything upon himself. From testing positive for cocaine, to pleading guilty in a hit-and-run accident, to getting stripped of his world title (twice) -- and now facing yet another suspension for using banned substances -- it’s safe to say that Jones has been through the ringer the past two years.

It does not stop there, however.

"Bones" was on the "Joe Rogan Experience" podcast Thursday, and had some interesting things he revealed to UFC's color commentator (via MMAFighting.com).

"I had this crazy thing that I would do, where I would party one week before every fight," Jones told Rogan. "And I did it throughout my whole career. And it was stupid, but it was this mental crutch that I had."

There had been rumors swirling even prior to Jones testing positive for cocaine that he was an intense partygoer. He attempted to hide his true lifestyle back then, but now it seems that he’s coming clean about all of it.

Jones continued, saying, "I literally would, one week before every fight, I would go out and I would get blacked out wasted. And my logic was, if this guy were to beat me somehow, I can look myself in the mirror and say, the reason I lost is because I got hammered the week before the fight."

The former No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world admitted that he wanted a built-in excuse before his fights. This way, if he lost, it would somehow make him feel better. This strategy, according to Jones, almost went wrong when he came close to losing his 205-pound strap in the all-time classic barnburner against Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165.

"I trained for the fight, but I definitely had this thing where I felt invincible," Jones said. "And I did a lot of wild stuff leading up to the fight. I definitely didn't give it my all. Really partying, drinking ... staying up all night."

Even though it is shocking to hear about the activities Jones participated in while he was champion, it is at least refreshing to hear him come clean about his lifestyle. And while it has only been five months, Jones has been able to stay out of trouble since being removed from UFC 200.

"My relationship with alcohol was never healthy, and I never went through a period in which I had a mature, healthy, responsible relationship with it."

It seems like Jones has finally made a healthy revelation about what he needs to do to continue competing in MMA. The former champion will be eligible to return to action in July 2017, after his one-year suspension is finished.