Jon Jones, the UFC Heavyweight Champion, sent a fan to the hospital after he requested that the UFC fighter kick him.
Jones has not fought since he beat Ciryl Gane for the vacant UFC Heavyweight Title in March last year at UFC 285. He was forced to pull out of his title defense against Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 after injuring his pectoral muscle in sparring. Jones underwent surgery with a view to returning this year.
However, he suffered another setback after undergoing elbow surgery. As he prepares to return from injury, Jones found himself getting closer to his fans. In the following clip, the fan can be seen asking Jones to kick him. In the first attempt, Bones holds back as he connects on the leg. After requesting him to hit harder, Jones obliged. He landed a big kick, heavily bruising the fan, who was then taken to hospital as he walked away on crutches.
Jones Kicks Fan
This is not the first time that UFC fighters have entertained fan requests. Sean Strickland did the same when a fan wanted to grapple the former UFC Middleweight Champion. Strickland and the fan went to battle on a ski slope, with Strickland making the fan tap.
“They want you guys to know that you’re not special. They want you guys to know that when you’re sitting in that f***ing nosebleed seat, you’re not special. Even though you are the motherf***ers that finance this sport, they want you guys to know that you suck. When I go and wrestle a guy on the ski slopes, that is f***ing awesome, man. I love the fact that you woke up, you went snowboarding, you saw me and say, ‘I want to fight this man.’ I f***ing love it. I respect it,” Strickland stated
Reaction
New UFC Card
Elsewhere, the UFC has announced its return to Missouri, St. Louis. The UFC last held an event in Kansas City around a year ago and it will return to the state on May 11 for a UFC Fight Night event. This is the second time an event has occurred in St. Louis. The only other time it had done so was when Jeremy Stephens took on Doo Ho Choi in a headline event in January 2018.
“[He’s] facing a heavier puncher and a guy who’s got the skills to pay the bills and go the distance. He’s (Choi) in for a long night…I hit a little bit different, people fight me a little bit different. I feel like I’m a lot more diverse with my striking. I’m better on the ground. If I want to take it to the ground, I can. If I want to keep it up, I will,” Stephens said
No fights have been officially announced, but the current card suggests that the following bouts will take place.
Current Card
Alonzo Menifield vs. Carlos Ulberg
Jared Gooden vs. Kevin Jousset
Tabatha Ricci vs. Tecia Torres
Matt Frevola vs. Michael Johnson
Jake Hadley vs. Charles Johnson
Terrance McKinney vs. Esteban Ribovics
Viacheslav Borshchev vs. Chase Hooper
Billy Goff vs. Trey Waters
More must-reads: