Ken Shamrock Has Words For Jon Jones, Pens Open Letter
Ken Shamrock, the former UFC champion, has seen his share of ups and downs, but with the current Jon Jones hit-and-run situation, he seems to have found his footing.
The MMA legend weighed in on the Jones situation with a heartfelt letter that expressed hope for the young fighter while not letting him off the hook for what he’s been accused of doing.
He also pushes most of the concern and well-wishes for the woman involved in the accident.
MMA Weekly was the first to reprint the open letter in full. Here’s the text. You tell us whether this Ken Shamrock is offering sound advice.
“Hi Jon:
Few others can understand the enticement of the lust of life when the world says “yes” to your every desire. At these times, anything you want is at your fingertips: free meals, expensive gifts, amazing opportunities, big sponsorships, money, girls, and just about every desire being met on demand.
One day, everything changes. Speaking from experience, the decisions we make eventually catches up to us. These consequences, from the seeds that we have sown, are very real and seldom easy to deal with. Fame is often a road paved with heartbreak. It’s a black hole that has the ability to engulf a distracted soul.
Unfortunately, you must sleep in the bed that you made. You did this to yourself, and you have issues that need to be dealt with. It’s important that you understand that all your troubles today are a bi-product of your actions. Once you truly understand this, then you can begin to heal what has been broken and move forward once again.
Jon, you are a true champion who has accomplished heights that few others will ever reach. Use your same internal strengths and determination that helped you become a world champion to fight though this hard season and yourself. Your next fight is with yourself.
Ironically, a documentary film is soon (June) to be released about me called The Greatest Fight. The greatest fight was ultimately with myself. I lived through the hardships that my actions caused me and hope others can learn from my past mistakes. The lust of the flesh (i.e. fame, money, sex, and drugs) blinded me and the bottom had to drop out before I could see clearly, rebuild, and rise up once again.
Jon, do NOT give up on yourself. You have risen to amazing levels in your career, and your fans need to see you learn from your mistakes and rise above them. It’s time to re-focus where focus has been lost. It’s very important that you get back to the your strong faith in Christ and allow Him to be your strength and guiding light though this season and beyond. Let this be a beginning of a testimony to help others. Although your fate is in your hands and no one else’s, I encourage you to draw close to those who are strongest in your circles and allow them to help you, too.
This is not the end, but your beginning. Fight the fight.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the woman in the accident for a speedy recovery.
God bless,
Ken Shamrock”
To recap, Sunday morning, Jones was involved in an automobile accident, which caused injury to a pregnant woman. After the crash, Jones immediately fled the scene. After nearly two days of hiding out, Jones turned himself in to the Albuquerque police and was subsequently released on $2,500 bail.
UFC President Dana White, under pressure from fans and fighters in the MMA community, came down hard on Jones, stripping him of the light heavyweight championship and suspending him indefinitely.
White also had some tough words for the now ex-champ, saying that he “had a lot of chances,” but that this was “his last one.”
Do you think people like Ken Shamrock and Dana White have Jones’ best interests at heart, and is there a road back for the UFC star, or has he ruined his career?
