ESPN analyst and former UFC contender Chael Sonnen recently offered some insight on his old UFC 159 opponent Jon Jones’ legal troubles.
“I think it’ll be a wake-up call for him. I really do,” Sonnen said on The Brutally Honest Show. “This has been going on for a really long time. These aren’t one-offs. One thing with athletes, as a whole, is that they never have to grow up. If you’re a 26-year-old athlete like he is, you might as well be a 16-year-old. Athletes are never forced into that real world situation.”
Related: Jon Jones sentenced to 18 months probation in hit-and-run car accident case
Jones has been stripped of his UFC light heavyweight tile and suspended indefinitely for his involvement in a hit-and-run car accident, but Sonnen is trying to look on the bright side. He thinks Jones can get his life back and even make a little money while he’s at it.
“You just don’t quit,” said Sonnen. “You keep going. From a philosophical standpoint, controversy creates cash. If you get in a jam, you’ve got to get in a room with smart people and start thinking. If you can’t turn controversy into cash, then you’re missing a major opportunity.
“One of my philosophies is that I don’t apologize, but that isn’t a blanket answer. If you’re wrong, apologize, but apologize to the right people. You don’t owe everybody an apology or explanation. If you’re wrong, don’t be afraid to say that you’re wrong. The coverup is always worse than the crime. Take your lumps and you’ll move forward a lot quicker.”
