From villain to greatness - the conflicting genius of Jones

Jon Jones lets out an excited roar and his eyes widen with glee when he sees the custom-made shorts he will wear on Saturday.

The red and black shorts sport two snarling lion heads, but it is the bible verse in gold lettering which draws Jones' attention.

The verse, titled Philippians 4:13, is the same one seen tattooed on Jones' chest throughout the majority of his extraordinary UFC career.

Jones, 37, is a remarkable athlete, widely regarded as one of, if not the best in UFC history.

But he is equally as controversial, with a series of arrests and charges for incidents in his personal life, coupled with two doping bans in the UFC, casting question marks over his legacy.

The bible verse has helped Jones reach glorious highs and recover from soul-crushing lows, and it will inspire him once again when he defends his heavyweight title against fellow American Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

"My late mother used to recite [Philippians 4:13] to me all the time - 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me'," said Jones., external

"This is my superpower, my relationship, faith. God has helped me through so many personal battles, not only in the octagon but in life. He has sustained me and given me strength in some really hard times."

When Jones, who was born in New York before later moving to New Mexico, walks out in front of his home fans he will be looking to extend his own UFC record of 15 title fight wins.

His longevity at the top is unmatched in the sport. He is set to defend his heavyweight title 14 years after beating Mauricio Rua to win the light-heavyweight title, becoming the youngest UFC champion in history.

But despite his accolades inside the octagon, Jones' antics outside it have led to some fans turning their back on him.

In 2015, Jones pleaded guilty to his part in a hit-and-run which injured a pregnant woman, while last month he reached a pre-adjudication agreement for two misdemeanour charges against him to be dismissed after he allegedly threatened to kill a female anti-doping officer.

Jones served doping bans in 2016 and 2017 although the United States Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) said they were confident he didn't deliberately use performance enhancing drugs.

As Jones was introduced for his news conference with Miocic, a wave of boos rivalled the cheers.

"I have many regrets but I’m aware that the man I am today has turned out to be a solid human being," said Jones.

"Everything you go through in life shapes you. I wouldn’t have the wisdom I have today if I hadn't gone through some of the things I’ve gone through."

The only defeat on Jones' 29-fight record is a disqualification against Matt Hamill in 2009 for using illegal elbows - a move which would be legal today under rule changes introduced this year.

Jones' achievements in the sport are amplified when taken into consideration the obstacles he has faced in his personal life.

How many athletes would have had their careers derailed if they were in Jones' position?

While Jones credits Philippians 4:13 with helping him through dark moments outside the octagon, inside it he perhaps draws strength from embracing the villain role.

Jones can be as unpredictable with his words as he is with his strikes - a combination which has made the American a must watch-headline draw in the UFC for the majority of his career.

On Wednesday he praised British interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, saying he "deserves many great things in life", before later using an expletive to describe him.

Jones further irked fans by refusing to fight Aspinall if he beats Miocic, saying the Briton "does nothing for my legacy".

Later, Jones' relationship turned sour with Miocic, saying "respect was out the window", before refusing to shake his hand.

The brazenness is a part of Jones' personality which many can't relate to, but it is one which has arguably helped him find a competitive edge, so often the difference between victory and defeat.

Jones has highlight reel finishes over stars like Ciryl Gane and Lyoto Machida, but gritty wins over Alexander Gustafsson and Vitor Belfort exemplify his all-round game.

When asked about his stature in MMA, Jones compares himself to a handful of all-time American sporting greats before notably circling back to his late mother - the person who first introduced him to the bible verse which has defined his career.

"MMA is just a different sport. I’m a massive Tom Brady fan, a massive LeBron James, Michael Jordan fan, but fighting transcends the lot," said Jones.

"If I’ve got this close to be considered in that way [the greatest], I might as well embrace it. I might as well advocate myself because reaching this level just doesn’t come often.

"What I’ve done is special and sometimes you’ve got to be your biggest cheerleader. My mom isn’t here anymore and she would want me to do that."