Jon ‘Bones’ Jones is one of the most prolific fighters to have ever graced the MMA canvas. The 35-year-old has made his dominance felt in UFC‘s light heavyweight division for a long period of time before moving up a weight class. Always venturing to outdo himself, Jones’ bouts have produced some of the most memorable moments in combat sports history.
However, outside the cage, the Albuquerque resident has a reputation for drowning in controversies throughout his career. Steroid abuse, driving under influence, ruffling critics’ feathers on Twitter, Jones has been through it all and then some. On a lighter side of things, Jon shone a light upon something that not many fans can claim they know.
My original fight nickname used to be sexual chocolate, what in the hell was I thinking 🥴😂
— BONY (@JonnyBones) November 30, 2020
In a resurfaced tweet, the former light heavyweight champ shares that ‘Bones’ hasn’t always been his fighting nickname. According to the tweet, it used to be “s*xual chocolate.” Knowing Jones, fans presumed him to be joking at first. However, an old clip started making rounds on YouTube which substantiated his claim soon after.
As per the viral clip, the announcer can be heard saying, “Jonny Bones, A.K.A. S*xual Chocolate Jones.” Based on the video, it seems to be from his pre-UFC days as the belt he’s wearing doesn’t resemble any that the Las Vegas-based promotion has had so far.
It is still unclear if there is any particular story behind the now-viral nickname. Aside from the tweet, Jon hasn’t mentioned it in any of his interviews so far. Fans speculate that it could either be his take on Eddie Murphy’s famous fictional band or a homage to Mark Henry, a former wrestling professional from WWE.
How did Jon Jones get the nickname ‘Bones’?
It is perhaps a good thing Jon got rid of his above-mentioned nickname because he went on to become the undeniable GOAT of the sport. Over the years, the nickname “Bones” has stuck around with the Albuquerque resident.
Jon is the brother of Arthur and Chandler Jones, two big names in the American Football world. The duo plays as Raven’s defensive lineman and defensive end for Las Vegas Raiders respectively. In an interview, Jon shared that his current nickname came during high school.
The 35-year-old said that his coaches and the rest of the football team referred to him as Bony, particularly because of his skinny legs. “I was a football player that couldn’t catch,” Jon said. “I couldn’t throw but I was really tall and skinny. They put me on the defensive line with these huge shoulder pads and [a] really big helmet.”
“When you look at my upper body I looked like a really big guy, but I had these little chicken legs coming out of the uniform. So everyone start calling me ‘Bones’ and my brother ‘Beefy,’ so I kept the name.”
Jon played defensive line at Union-Endicott High School and kept the nickname while transitioning into MMA, paying homage to his football days. ‘Bones’ at present is reportedly the highest-paid fighter on the UFC roster, right behind Irish megastar Conor McGregor.