Jon Jones not interested in responding to John McCarthy’s claims regarding UFC 165 win over Alexander Gustafsson

Jon Jones has opted to take the high road after John McCarthy recently claimed that he was responsible for ‘Bones’ taking home a win at UFC 165.

For those who don’t remember, ‘Bones’ had put his light heavyweight title on the line against Alexander Gustafsson in September of 2013. The result was arguably the greatest fight in the history of the light heavyweight division. After twenty-five minutes of heart-pounding action, Jon Jones was awarded the unanimous decision victory from the judges in attendance.

John McCarthy, who was the referee who oversaw the first Jones vs. Gustafsson fight, recently claimed that he was partially responsible for ‘Bones’ taking home a win over ‘The Mauler’ at UFC 165.

“Let’s talk about it this way, Jon Jones thinks I hate him,” McCarthy explained on the Weighing in Podcast with Josh Thomson. “He actually at one point you know he wanted to, it was before the Daniel Cormier fight I think, but he came out in the media and said he didn’t want me doing his fight. And it was because of the fight that he had with Vitor Belfort in Toronto, Canada. Where you know, there was kick thrown and stuff. But it’s ok that Jon feels like ok you know he doesn’t like me. Is it that I didn’t like Jon? No! I really did like Jon Jones. And I’ll be flat out honest. Jon would have lost his world title if I wasn’t doing his fight at UFC 165 when he fought Alexander Gustafsson. There is not another referee that would have told the doctor ‘No I am not stopping the fight’ and let him go out for the fifth round. And let that fight continue. Because referees are not going to put their career on the line for a fighter. So there going to say ‘you want it stopped?’ and then do this with there hands (motioning to stop the contest) and the fight is going to be over. Alexander Gustafsson is going to be the winner.”

Josh Thomson asked John McCarthy to explain what happened in more detail.

“When Jon Jones fought Alexander Gustafsson he got hit with a, I think it was a right hand that was on the right eye, in the first round and split his eye open. And he went through the fight, second round, third round, and then the cut got a little bit worse at the end of the third round. At the end of the fourth round the doctor came in and looked at me and he says ‘you know what I don’t like the way his eye is looking, I think we should stop the fight’. And I looked at it, and Jon had just won the fourth round. You know, came back because Alexander was winning it but then Jon came back and won and almost finished Alexander in that fourth round. He was the champion and he had been fighting with the eye the way it was for the entire fight. And never was he dabbing at it or anything. So I looked at him and I said ‘He just won that last round I don’t think we need to stop this fight’. He goes ‘I don’t like it’. So I said ‘I tell you what, we’re going to let the fight go on and if I see that cut change at all, I’ll stop the fight and bring you in’. Right. So he said ok and he (Jon Jones) goes out and I am thinking to myself I am never stopping this fight. Ok, because I am not going to take someone’s title based on a cut that.. you know, I know what bad cuts are and that wasn’t… I am not saying I am smarter than the doctor but when it comes to injuries in fights I am smarter than the doctor. Especially when it comes to cuts. So that’s how much I hated Jon Jones.”

Earlier this evening on Twitter, BJPENN.com reached out to Jon Jones to request his thoughts on John McCarthy’s recent claims, but the long time UFC light heavyweight kingpin was not interested in acknowledging the veteran referee.

https://twitter.com/JonnyBones/status/1276740765557772290

“Naw, lol not really.” – Jon Jones replied.

Jones and Gustafsson would rematch years later at UFC 232 in Los Angeles, with ‘Bones’ emerging victorious in dominant fashion by way of knockout.

Jon Jones is currently on the sidelines for the foreseeable future after failed negotiations for a super-fight with Francis Ngannou resulted in a bitter spat with UFC President Dana White.

Jones recently vacated his UFC light heavyweight title, this while suggesting that the promotion book a bout between Dominick Reyes and Jan Blachowicz to crown a new division champion.

If and when we see Jon Jones inside of the Octagon next remains to be seen. Who would you like to see ‘Bones’ fight next if he does come to terms with the UFC? Share your thoughts in the comments section PENN Nation!

on June 27, 2020