Post by Publicist on Aug 12, 2019 17:04:43 GMT -5
Union Grand Prix helped to bring mixed martial arts to the forefront of combat sports. Its athletes display, not only power, but grace and technique while plying their trade. What they do is not for the faint of heart nor is it for the mentally or physically weak. To be the best, you have to dedicate long hours to train yourself to operate at peak efficiency, even while under duress or fighting against the limits of your own body. Training and a proper diet is key, but what happens when that is not enough? What happens when someone needs an edge…or…when others think that you are gaming the system because your performance is seemingly other worldly? That is the rub and that is at the center of the scandal that rocked UGP, leading to a wave of testing for banned substances, dozens of releases, and the cancelation of a huge pay-per-view event, costing the company millions.
At the center of it all, Rob Jones, a young up and coming fighter with an impeccable record and a bright future. That future was shattered when allegations of doping hit like a bomb, blasting apart the careers of Jones and many others like him. Over the last several weeks Jones has been a lightning rod for those who see him as a cheater who arrogantly gamed the system and flaunted his success while others worked hard and played fair only to come up short.
Last month a Jones supporter responded to a Circle Television Network announcement concerning a UGP exhibition match, the first one since the cancellation of UGP 12 on the 6th of June. This raised the ire of many who still felt the sting of the black mark that had fallen over the MMA community from the apparent scandal caused by him. Throughout, Jones has maintained his innocence, all while continuing to antagonize the masses with his claims of simply being better, naturally. Tonight Rob Jones sits with me and discusses what really happened, from his perspective.
Is Rob Jones the villain? Is Rob Jones the victim? Listen to his words and you be the judge.
Francis Alexander Quinn [FAQ]: Let’s address the elephant in the room right off the top, you were released from Union GP. The rumor is that it was because of cheating; specifically doping to gain an unfair advantage. Is that why you were fired?
Rob Jones [RJ]: Yes and no. I had been accused of doping before the Warren fight. Myself, Tommy, and the others never failed a drug test, and we were never found to be violating any sanctions. After the doping accusations became rampant on social media our management team sat down with Dante and mutually decided to part ways.
FAQ: Misty DeMeans was also swept up in the same allegations, with many claiming that you implicated her after you were accused. Was Misty dirty and if so, how did you know?
RJ: I don't know Misty well. The only link between our gyms was Alejandro Rivera, Jack Nation, and TW Combat Sports fighters utilized the same management team.
FAQ: You agreed to leave UGP after a conversation with the owner. Most people would say that was like an admission of guilt. If you did nothing wrong, why agree to leave? Why not conform to the rule change and show everyone that you were never dirty?
RJ: Truth is I'm in this sport for fun. I didn't need to be in UGP. didn't need the money. FAQ I just enjoy fighting and if I had to fight on a regional circuit up here in New York I will do so but I'm not going to sit there and listen to all these other fighters call me a cheat and make other allegations against me just because I'm better than them and they knew it. In the end the juice was worth the squeeze. There was no wrong doing. I was just a better fighter and made it a point to remind everybody.
FAQ: You have been very polite in our interview, but a lot of the banter on social media has not been so kind. I understand that others are angry and upset, but you seemed to take a great deal of delight in stirring up the masses against you. Don’t you think that hurts the sport and what UGP and others are trying to do? Why do you continue to respond and push a narrative that most find divisive and counterproductive?
RJ: I was more than happy to banter with those guys. I'm a naturally polite person that's the way I was brought up, but when somebody wants to have a little verbal sparring match, I'm there and yes I'll be more than entertained. So don't think I'm not a nice guy. I sure do love the trash talk though
FAQ: I polled many of your former co-workers and asked them to submit questions for this interview; the response was overwhelming that most just want to move on and put this incident behind them. My question for you is if you can do that as well?
RJ: (chuckles) I'd expect nothing less. They're all going to try distancing themselves from myself and TW Combat Sports. When titles are exchanged down the road they're going to want to pretend they've beaten the best, but in actuality Tommy Ward, Scotty Gordy, Reggie Martin, and I collectively known as #thetwcombatshow were the best and we proved it by our clean sweep at UGP 11.
FAQ: Union GP is moving on without you, but not without wide spread testing that has seen several other fighters released and an entire event cancelled. Do you take any responsibility for that and if not, who do you think should shoulder the blame?
RJ: Union GP is a good upstart company so I'm not surprised by them moving on. As for those 'releases' it's my understanding that Reno Nevada and Ivan Arlovski left on their own as did the majority of HILITE FC. I take no responsibility for BossFightNightXI getting cancelled. That is all on the shoulders of Giz and Robert Guilliman. As for drug testing I am hugely supportive of a cleaner sport.
FAQ: What do you think the future of Union GP will be without you as part of it?
RJ: The future for Union is bright. Did this whole mess cost them at least 12 great fighters? Yes. Are there any other options for the sport of course, for every one retired fighter there are five ready to take their place.
FAQ: On June 6th Cal McCluskey and Jordan Parker-Kane square off in a Union GP sanctioned fight during UGWC WrestleStock and someone took to social media to comment; “Neither of them would have lasted a round with the #Kingof 155 Rob Jones.” Now that you have this forum, can you tell the fans what you think of the competitors in that fight and could you give a prediction?
RJ: (chuckles) I heard about a fan who commented on that fight by showing me love and I appreciate that, but it wasn't anything I said. As for the fight itself Cal's got a huge chip on his shoulder and wants to prove himself against JPK, but I think Spidey will submit him in the later rounds.
FAQ: What does the future hold for you in the MMA world and where can your fans see you next?
RJ: You never know bud. I’m just doing my thing now. If anything changes, I'll let you know.
At the center of it all, Rob Jones, a young up and coming fighter with an impeccable record and a bright future. That future was shattered when allegations of doping hit like a bomb, blasting apart the careers of Jones and many others like him. Over the last several weeks Jones has been a lightning rod for those who see him as a cheater who arrogantly gamed the system and flaunted his success while others worked hard and played fair only to come up short.
Last month a Jones supporter responded to a Circle Television Network announcement concerning a UGP exhibition match, the first one since the cancellation of UGP 12 on the 6th of June. This raised the ire of many who still felt the sting of the black mark that had fallen over the MMA community from the apparent scandal caused by him. Throughout, Jones has maintained his innocence, all while continuing to antagonize the masses with his claims of simply being better, naturally. Tonight Rob Jones sits with me and discusses what really happened, from his perspective.
Is Rob Jones the villain? Is Rob Jones the victim? Listen to his words and you be the judge.
Francis Alexander Quinn [FAQ]: Let’s address the elephant in the room right off the top, you were released from Union GP. The rumor is that it was because of cheating; specifically doping to gain an unfair advantage. Is that why you were fired?
Rob Jones [RJ]: Yes and no. I had been accused of doping before the Warren fight. Myself, Tommy, and the others never failed a drug test, and we were never found to be violating any sanctions. After the doping accusations became rampant on social media our management team sat down with Dante and mutually decided to part ways.
FAQ: Misty DeMeans was also swept up in the same allegations, with many claiming that you implicated her after you were accused. Was Misty dirty and if so, how did you know?
RJ: I don't know Misty well. The only link between our gyms was Alejandro Rivera, Jack Nation, and TW Combat Sports fighters utilized the same management team.
FAQ: You agreed to leave UGP after a conversation with the owner. Most people would say that was like an admission of guilt. If you did nothing wrong, why agree to leave? Why not conform to the rule change and show everyone that you were never dirty?
RJ: Truth is I'm in this sport for fun. I didn't need to be in UGP. didn't need the money. FAQ I just enjoy fighting and if I had to fight on a regional circuit up here in New York I will do so but I'm not going to sit there and listen to all these other fighters call me a cheat and make other allegations against me just because I'm better than them and they knew it. In the end the juice was worth the squeeze. There was no wrong doing. I was just a better fighter and made it a point to remind everybody.
FAQ: You have been very polite in our interview, but a lot of the banter on social media has not been so kind. I understand that others are angry and upset, but you seemed to take a great deal of delight in stirring up the masses against you. Don’t you think that hurts the sport and what UGP and others are trying to do? Why do you continue to respond and push a narrative that most find divisive and counterproductive?
RJ: I was more than happy to banter with those guys. I'm a naturally polite person that's the way I was brought up, but when somebody wants to have a little verbal sparring match, I'm there and yes I'll be more than entertained. So don't think I'm not a nice guy. I sure do love the trash talk though
FAQ: I polled many of your former co-workers and asked them to submit questions for this interview; the response was overwhelming that most just want to move on and put this incident behind them. My question for you is if you can do that as well?
RJ: (chuckles) I'd expect nothing less. They're all going to try distancing themselves from myself and TW Combat Sports. When titles are exchanged down the road they're going to want to pretend they've beaten the best, but in actuality Tommy Ward, Scotty Gordy, Reggie Martin, and I collectively known as #thetwcombatshow were the best and we proved it by our clean sweep at UGP 11.
FAQ: Union GP is moving on without you, but not without wide spread testing that has seen several other fighters released and an entire event cancelled. Do you take any responsibility for that and if not, who do you think should shoulder the blame?
RJ: Union GP is a good upstart company so I'm not surprised by them moving on. As for those 'releases' it's my understanding that Reno Nevada and Ivan Arlovski left on their own as did the majority of HILITE FC. I take no responsibility for BossFightNightXI getting cancelled. That is all on the shoulders of Giz and Robert Guilliman. As for drug testing I am hugely supportive of a cleaner sport.
FAQ: What do you think the future of Union GP will be without you as part of it?
RJ: The future for Union is bright. Did this whole mess cost them at least 12 great fighters? Yes. Are there any other options for the sport of course, for every one retired fighter there are five ready to take their place.
FAQ: On June 6th Cal McCluskey and Jordan Parker-Kane square off in a Union GP sanctioned fight during UGWC WrestleStock and someone took to social media to comment; “Neither of them would have lasted a round with the #Kingof 155 Rob Jones.” Now that you have this forum, can you tell the fans what you think of the competitors in that fight and could you give a prediction?
RJ: (chuckles) I heard about a fan who commented on that fight by showing me love and I appreciate that, but it wasn't anything I said. As for the fight itself Cal's got a huge chip on his shoulder and wants to prove himself against JPK, but I think Spidey will submit him in the later rounds.
FAQ: What does the future hold for you in the MMA world and where can your fans see you next?
RJ: You never know bud. I’m just doing my thing now. If anything changes, I'll let you know.
Union Grand Prix has moved on and is in the process of scheduling its next major event, tentatively Boss Fight XI which is rumored to have major title implications. This is the perfect way to move forward and usher in a new era of MMA competition while avoiding the negativity of this alleged cheating scandal. The fighters of UGP have mostly focused on the revamp, though there are occasional pot shots fired back and forth between current members and former members. It is a highly competitive sport and trash talk is par for the course.
This interview was not conducted with the approval or in any way sanctioned by UGP, nor was it meant to be an endorsement of Rob Jones or any other MMA fighter. It is my sincere hope that the rough feelings that were caused by the fall out can be smoothed over and hopefully time will heal all wounds. That will be a difficult task while fighters and fans continue to take pot shots at one another over social media, but the fight game is filled with big personalities and even bigger egos. At the end of the day, the past is the past and all that matters is the future.
UGP management has done a great job of steering the ship through rough waters and they have their sights set on putting all of this behind them as they move forward with new fighters and slick new presentation of their well-established product. As for Rob Jones, he informed me that he would now be fighting for the newly established Global Combat Championships, based out of Abu Dhabi.
I wish both sides all the best. I am Francis Alexander Quinn, and this has been Just the FAQ!
Just The FAQ ©
Circle Television Network 2019
All Rights Reserved
This interview was not conducted with the approval or in any way sanctioned by UGP, nor was it meant to be an endorsement of Rob Jones or any other MMA fighter. It is my sincere hope that the rough feelings that were caused by the fall out can be smoothed over and hopefully time will heal all wounds. That will be a difficult task while fighters and fans continue to take pot shots at one another over social media, but the fight game is filled with big personalities and even bigger egos. At the end of the day, the past is the past and all that matters is the future.
UGP management has done a great job of steering the ship through rough waters and they have their sights set on putting all of this behind them as they move forward with new fighters and slick new presentation of their well-established product. As for Rob Jones, he informed me that he would now be fighting for the newly established Global Combat Championships, based out of Abu Dhabi.
I wish both sides all the best. I am Francis Alexander Quinn, and this has been Just the FAQ!
Just The FAQ ©
Circle Television Network 2019
All Rights Reserved
