Weidman: I don’t judge Jon Jones at all
Chris Weidman: “Jon Jones is going down the wrong path at the moment but I could easily have gone down that wrong path too.”
UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman spoke recently with James Dielhenn for Britain’s Sky Sports, and discussed former UFC light heavyweight Jon Jones’ legal problems.
I don’t judge Jon at all for struggling with life’s temptations, said Weidman. I have tasted it myself. I’ve been a world champion for two years and we’ve got things at our fingertips that celebrities don’t even have.
Everybody wants to be around the toughest guy in the world. Everybody wants to be friends with the champion of the world so it’s a tough situation to be in.
Jon is going down the wrong path at the moment but I could easily have gone down that wrong path too. We’re all vulnerable, and capable of doing bad things.
All Jon’s faults and everything he’s done wrong – the DUI charge, the cocaine test, getting drunk and now this – gives him a chance to disappear for a while and rebuild himself so he can become an amazing role model.
Everybody, whether they’re UFC champion or not, has their secrets. But Jon’s secrets are all out. Everybody messes up.
He needs to overcome his problems and become a more powerful person. This break will allow him to do that. The UFC made the right decision to suspend him but it’s the best thing for Jon, too.
He can come back stronger because people will see a guy who has messed up but rebounded, and they will relate to that.
Chris Weidman fights Vitor Belfort in the main event of UFC 186 on May 23 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jon Jones vs. Anthony Johnson was the original main event.
