Could brain trauma be the reason for the downfall of Jon Jones?

Jon Jones is widely considered to be the greatest fighter in the history of MMA. The only tarnishes on his record are two failed drug tests: one for estrogen blockers which cancelled his rematch with rival Daniel Cormier at UFC 200. This positive test was explained away by male enhancement pills, and Jones received an abridged suspension. The second positive test was returned after the eventual rematch with Cormier, which Jones won by KO. He tested positive for anabolic agent turinabol.

These failed tests are only half the story of Jones misbehavior. He has a troubled non-competitive track record including crashing his Bentley, testing positive for cocaine (before checking in and out of rehab in 24 hours,) and committing a hit and run on a pregnant woman in Albuquerque, after which his belt was stripped.

Everybody and their trainer has a theory on Jones’s apparently self-destructive behavior, with psychological diagnoses thrown around in the media after each debacle. But last week on his podcast, UFC commentator Joe Rogan offered an alternative theory on Jones’s behavior.

“There’s a symptom of something else going on,” Rogan said (transcript via MMA Weekly). People don’t like to discuss this but one of the things that it easily could be is that Jon has impulse control [issues] because he’s been sparring and fighting at the highest level of the sport for many, many years now and he’s gotten hit in the head a gang of times. There’s no way around it.”

Rogan went on to explain the ‘scientific’ basis of his claim. He referenced a neurological study which concluded that brain trauma could lead to criminal behavior.

“There was an article I posted on Twitter that came up a couple of days ago, these neuroscientists were examining brain injury and violent behavior and like how they’re connected,” he continued. “How damage to certain areas of the brain has irreparable consequences on the decision-making ability of the person who gets hit.”

The study is indeed provocative and could contribute to better regulations surrounding brain trauma and better medical care for concussion victims. For now though, claims about Jon Jones remain speculative, and Rogan acknowledges that.

“So exceptional in his physical abilities but the choices he makes and the decisions that come out of those choices are just f–king terrible.”

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