The Return Of The GOAT

March 01, 2023

The Return of the MMA G.O.A.T

Friends,

Welcome the Sports Biz Network semi-daily email where we actually can believe it’s March 1st. If you just became a fan of MMA in the last three years, you haven’t seen Jon Jones fight and surely don’t understand how he took the sport by storm. Today we break down his career inside and out of the Octagon. We didn’t pay for this, but Ittts’s Tiiiiiiiimmmeeeee!

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Featured Story

Many consider Jon Jones the G.O.A.T of MMA, but many don’t know his full story. Today, we breakdown the story of Jon Jones, one of the most dominant and successful fighters in mixed martial arts (MMA) history.

Jones, also known as "Bones," began his professional MMA career in 2008 and quickly made a name for himself with his unorthodox striking, grappling skills, and incredible athleticism. He became the youngest champion in UFC history at the age of 23, winning the light heavyweight title in 2011. Since then, he has defended his title 13 times, a record in the UFC's light heavyweight division.

Shooting to the top of the UFC stardom, Jones become one of the highest-paid fighters in the sport and most sought after athletes. Two of the biggest sports brands in the world that have never partnered with MMA athletes, Gatorade and Nike, signed the young Jones to endorsement deals (note- they haven’t worked with any other MMA athletes since).

Throughout his career, Jones has been also been sponsored by several major brands. Reebok, the official apparel sponsor of the UFC, has had a longstanding partnership with Jones. He has also worked with GAT Supplements, MuscleTech, and Monster Energy. According to Forbes, he made $2.4 million for his fight against Thiago Santos in 2019.

In addition to his sponsorships, Jones has built a substantial following on social media. As of February 2023, he has over 6.5 million followers on Instagram and over 2 million followers on Twitter. This large following has the potential to translate into significant value for Jones and his sponsors. According to Influencer Marketing Hub, Jones' estimated cost per sponsored Instagram post is $27,590, making him one of the most valuable athletes on social media.

Jones' career hasn't been without controversy, however. In 2015, he was stripped of his title and suspended after being involved in a hit-and-run accident. He was also stripped of his title in 2017 after testing positive for a banned substance.

Despite some setbacks in his personal life and in the octagon, Jones remains one of the most dominant fighters in the sport and continues to be a highly sought-after endorsement partner for brands.

Imagine if…

Imagine if Jon Jones had a team around him that was business-minded like Connor McGregor. The amount of business opportunities and brands he could have created and partnered with could have made him hundreds of millions if not billions…

Jon Jones has had a remarkable career as a UFC fighter, becoming one of the sport's biggest stars and earning a substantial net worth. This weekend he fights in a new weight division that could only solidify his G.O.A.T status, but more importantly for SBN it could open up more biz opportunities.

 

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