UFC Legend Jon Jones Releases Statement On Health Status

A video recently went viral of UFC legend Jon Jones discussing the need for a career-threatening hip replacement, which prompted many to wonder if he's going to retire for good. Today, he addressed the rumors.

In a statement shared via TMZ's Michael Babcock, Jones confirmed that he will be undergoing hip replacement as a consequence of years of accumulated "battle scars" from inside The Octagon.

“Looks like a private conversation I had at DBX 5 in Houston made its way out into the wild. It happens. Like most fighters, we deal with injuries quietly sometimes and like in my case, for years. A lot of us walk around limping most days, paying the ultimate price for our health.

"If you’re wondering whether it’s true, it is. I’m grateful for all my battle scars, and if I could do it all over again, I absolutely would without hesitation. It's been what I wake up for in my career everyday."

Jones vs. Critics

The former UFC champion said that he's battled arthritis for a long time and does not intend to approach recovering from pain and injuries recklessly just because people criticize him for not fighting enough. He said that his ultimate goal is to compete at the planned UFC event at the White House this coming summer to commemorate America's 250th birthday. Finally, he declared that even though he's more injured than he once was, he's still better than "99%" of everyone out there.

"Even after becoming one of the most accomplished fighters in the history of the sport, my critics still give me grief about slowing down over the past few years. That’s called living to fight another day taking the lessons learned and applying them to business instead of the Octagon. It's called evolution.

"The UFC knows the extent of my arthritis. They also know that if I were to put it all on the line one last time and endure that level of pain, the reward would have to be something special and something more than a fat payday. For me, that was and is still the White House.

"Whether that fight happens or not, my career has been one for the ages and nothing short of legendary. I left a big part of myself in that Octagon, and I’m grateful for every bit of it. And don’t get it twisted, I’ll still kick 99% of your asses out there. Still putting up big numbers under the squat rack. Still training. Still outworking most of you… just maybe after a proper warm-up and a good stretch. God bless. Jon Jones”