Jon Jones lets out an excited roar and his eyes widen with glee when he sees the custom-made shorts he’ll put on on Saturday.
The pink and black shorts sport two snarling lion heads, however it’s the bible verse in gold lettering which pulls Jones’ consideration.
The verse, titled Philippians 4:13, is identical one seen tattooed on Jones’ chest all through nearly all of his extraordinary UFC profession.
Jones, 37, is a exceptional athlete, broadly considered one in every of, if not the very best in UFC historical past.
However he’s equally as controversial, with a sequence of arrests and expenses for incidents in his private life, coupled with two doping bans within the UFC, casting query marks over his legacy.
The bible verse has helped Jones attain superb highs and recuperate from soul-crushing lows, and it’ll encourage him as soon as once more when he defends his heavyweight title in opposition to fellow American Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York.
“My late mom used to recite [Philippians 4:13] to me on a regular basis – ‘I can do all issues by Christ who strengthens me’,” stated Jones., exterior
“That is my superpower, my relationship, religion. God has helped me by so many private battles, not solely within the octagon however in life. He has sustained me and given me energy in some actually exhausting occasions.”
