Ahead Of UFC Title Defense, Jon Jones Overcoming A Fear

Just days away from defending his UFC light heavyweight title, and Jon Jones is trying to overcome one of his fears.

For one of the top fighters in the sport, claustrophobia is that fear.

Jones, who faces Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 this coming Saturday night, traveled down a cave over the weekend.

“Crawled about a half mile down into a tight cave last night to look my claustrophobia in the face,” he posted on Instagram. “The cave was pitch black, cold and unforgiving. Some of the areas we went through was so tight we had to army crawl in a single file line. The scariest thing about that was if someone were to freak out, they would be no way to turn around or escape. We crawled through tunnels that were literally just wider than our shoulders.

“When you are in a situation like that, your mind takes you to wild places, what happens if this rock falls? what happens if one of us gets stuck? What happens if they panic? What happens if I panic!? Are there animals/snakes living down here? None of us had cell phone reception, and none of us were professionals. But we kept moving forward anyways. Was honestly one of the most scariest and mentally challenging things I’ve ever done.

“I’m glad I did it, I’m learning to live on the other side of fear, God has not given us a spirit of fear. I’ve learned that often times on the other side of our insecurities and fears are great rewards. I put my mind through a test and I passed, woke up this morning a little sore but victorious.”

While Jones might be the biggest fear for many in the UFC and MMA as a whole, it is good to see “Bones” does have some of his own fears.

UFC 247 Fight Card

MAIN CARD

UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
Jon Jones (c) vs. Dominick Reyes

UFC Female Flyweight Championship
Valentina Shevchenko (c) vs. Katlyn Chookagian

Heavyweight: Juan Adams vs. Justin Tafa

Featherweight: Mirsad Bektic vs. Dan Ige

Heavyweight: Derrick Lewis vs. Ilir Latifi

PRELIMINARY CARD

Middleweight: Trevin Giles vs. Antonio Arroyo

Welterweight: Alex Morono vs. Kalinn Williams

Female Flyweight: Lauren Murphy vs. Andrea Lee

Bantamweight: Miles Johns vs. Mario Bautista

Bantamweight: Journey Newson vs. Domingo Pilarte

Bantamweight: Andre Ewell vs. Jonathan Martinez

Featherweight: Austin Lingo vs. Youseff Zalala