What do ya'll think? Does he owe ANYTHING to his employer or the fans and customers who pay money to watch him fight? I was taught as a kid that the guy who signs my paycheck isn't necessarily my boss, but the customers are. Without them, you don't have shit.
I'm not knocking him for his decision to not fight and I'm trying to put myself in his nike shoes and realize he's been catching a lot of shit from people he thought were his fans, but doesnt owe anybody anything?
Thoughts from the brilliant UG minds?
He owes me some god damn respect. 
Nope he doesn't owe me shit. However he is going to have to work 2x as hard if he wants to win back all but his most devoted fans.
The fact remains he had a full training camp and bitched out when given the opportunity to fight an undersized opponent who had limited striking capabilities and one submission victory in a decade.
He owes nothing to anyone but himself and his daughters. The problem he has now is that for the next 2 or 3 fights he cant afford to lose a fight. Its not that the UFC would cut him, they will just marginalize him. Say goodbye to 3 fights a year, welcome to 1 fight in 2013 and 1 in 2014. Say goodbye to UFC branded/sponsored appearances. They wont cut him, they will just humble him.
So Jones hopefully has been really good with his money or has been training extra because neither Gustafsson nor Glover are guaranteed wins. 
Yea he owes me. If he does my dishes next week we're cool though.
dubate -Nope he doesn't owe me shit. However he is going to have to work 2x as hard if he wants to win back all but his most devoted fans.
The fact remains he had a full training camp and bitched out when given the opportunity to fight an undersized opponent who had limited striking capabilities and one submission victory in a decade.
He owes nothing to anyone but himself and his daughters. The problem he has now is that for the next 2 or 3 fights he cant afford to lose a fight. Its not that the UFC would cut him, they will just marginalize him. Say goodbye to 3 fights a year, welcome to 1 fight in 2013 and 1 in 2014. Say goodbye to UFC branded/sponsored appearances. They wont cut him, they will just humble him.
So Jones hopefully has been really good with his money or has been training extra because neither Gustafsson nor Glover are guaranteed wins.
Exactly right. Jones need the UFC far more than the UFC needs Jones. The casual fan is very fickle and has a very short memory.
Child support.
I feel he should have took the fight, but compared to other guys he did provide crazy entertainment since day 1 basically. Minute for minute I think he has had some of the most exciting fights and paid his dues that way in a sense. My only real gripe is he keeps flip flopping on the reasoning why he declined. Had he just said right after declining the fight, I'm sorry if it affects people but I simply didn't feel ready. Instead he has jumped from that to Chael being undeserving, planning the attack on Pearl Harbor, being about the money etc. Just stick to one and go with it.
Luckily Chael is here to provide some entertainment while this blows over.
He doesn't owe me money, but he does owe me to act how a UFC champ should, fight when he is supposed to, and do the best he can.
Just my 2 cents, not trying to start an argument.
Madrugadao - He owes no-one anything. He fights, then he gets paid. No fight, no pay. If he comes in ill-prepared and puts on a shitty performance (while still taking home pay), you might have a point.
This
Sho_Gunn -Madrugadao - He owes no-one anything. He fights, then he gets paid. No fight, no pay. If he comes in ill-prepared and puts on a shitty performance (while still taking home pay), you might have a point.
This
A-fukin' greed.
What about taxes? Does he owe that at least?
This boy is a d****e. I get that Zuffa is responsible for the card but jones has some responsibility as well. He knew who was fighting on the card with him....its like he got into a car with a bunch of drunk people and the car crashed and someone got hurt. He then would spout off about how he wasn't the one driving. He knew the dude was drunk and said nothing. He is the champ, the high road is the route to take and all he is doing is exactly what DFW is doing.......everyone elses fault. Him saying Zuffa learned a lesson is about as egotistical a thing a fighter has done lately. What about you learning a little....he is NOW gonna think about things in a more business like manner....his decision was all business. Arrogance personified. Both parties share responsibility in the ripping off of the people who have made both those fools rich so hell yes he owes us something if not just a little ownership in the fact the card was cancelled in part to his unwillingness to fight. The only real losers here are the fans. <br /><br />PS Don't lose any fights in the near future because they are gonna have your back just like you had theirs.......
He owes me a sawbuck
Nope... Coming into a fight unprepared for your opponent and putting on a poor performance is far worse. I would rather have the 100% ready Jones so I can see an exciting fight and remain a fan, than the half assed fighter that is just looking to collect a paycheck and squeek by with the W.
Dickhead move. UFC are technically his boss. Would you go and take a shit on the desk of your boss?
NO
The fans are the VERY FIRST people after a few losses...Dana is next.
JBJ got to where he is by BUSTING HIS ASS in training and BRAVELY taking onand DESTROYING THE TOUGHEST MEN ON THE PLANET @ his weight class....His blood, time, sweat, and tears...His sacrifice...his health and body.
We pay because he puts on a good, dominating, spectacle and THAT is why we pay...but LOL @ thinking these fighters "OWE" the fickle shit talking fans anything. They got what they paid for, done deal...He doesn't have to have the most amazing and dominant run in history against THE toughest CURRENT champions and legends questioned because he didn't step up to world beater Chael Sonnen...
LOL, NOBODY asked for that fight...and L M A O @ any idiot that was dying to pay $60 for JBJ vs Sonnen (lol) and the shittiest undercard in history...You guys LOOOOVE getting ripped of by Dana..ha ha
He doesn't owe anybody anything, but he just needs to remember that when he's old, washed up, and broke that nobody owes him anything.
" What do ya'll think? Does he owe ANYTHING to his employer"
Yes, he owes it to his employer to fulfill the contracts he signed and to perform at his best.
"or the fans and customers who pay money to watch him fight?"
Yes, he owes it to them to perform at his best.
It's funny, people always get pissed when a fighter shows up out of shape or doesn't take an opponent seriously or whatever. They feel like he let down the fans and showed disrespect to them, his opponent, his employer, and even the sport itself.
Yet now a fighter wanted a few more weeks to prepare for a sudden change of opponent -- to ensure he would perform at his best -- and everyone freaks the fuck out.
Hypocritical crybabies.
If Jones was facing the tail-end of his career, then I would totally understand his reasoning, as he would have a very limited time to make the most of what he has left.
However, he has his whole career ahead of him, and I'm sure he will want Zuffa and the fans to have his back during the difficult times in the future. His actions lately do not make people feel they should be loyal to him during the tough times, and I believe he will eventually live to regret it.
Guys like Wanderlei can go through difficult times, but you better believe his employer and fans have his back. Could you imagine Wanderlei saying "I don't owe anybody anything?" Of course not, because he knows better and is actually thankful for the support he receives.
Jon Jones needs a better mentor, like Wanderlei or Renzo. Maybe they could talk some sense into him before it's too late.
Yes, he does.
Really beginning to seriously dislike this kid.
Fighters fight. Promoters market it so both can get paid. If a fighter doesn't want to fight there is nothing the promoter can do about it.
Jones deserves all the blame and scorn he is getting. What was he risking? That he might lose? Isn't that the risk a fighter takes in every fight.
He had a full camp training for a similar fighter. The only real difference is that Chael has no power, about one tenth the toughness of Hendo, but sells PPVs better. Yet Bones was doing what was right for his family by not fighting and not getting paid to beat up a lesser opponent. His reasons for doing so are ridiculous.
Most people were going to buy this fight to watch JBJ and Hendo. Its a huge fight, its a title fight and its the premiere weight class. It was clearly enough to carry the whole card and no complimenting matchup would have delivered the product that people paid to watch. Jones has an obligation as Champ, if he is healthy, to deliver a fight.
I would think this finally puts to rest the old criticism that zuffa only promotes its brand and not the fighters.