Terence Crawford has built his legacy on self-discipline, clean living, and a relentless pursuit of perfection inside the boxing ring. That’s why his recent admission caught many fans off guard.
Asked which UFC fighters he most admires, the undefeated world champion did not hesitate, Jon Jones, the man whose brilliance inside the Octagon has often been overshadowed by chaos outside of it.
“I’ve been a fan of him,” Crawford said on the FullSend podcast, explaining that he and Jones keep in touch. “Jon Jones is my boy, man!
“We’re cool, we inbox and talk here and there. I like Khabib, Mirsad [Bektic], Aljo… there’s a lot of fighters. But Jones, he’s different.”
It’s a statement that underscores the paradox of Jones‘ career. For more than a decade, the former light heavyweight and heavyweight champion has dazzled fans with his talent, cementing his place as one of the sport’s most dominant athletes.
Yet away from the cage, his record has been marked by failed drug tests, legal troubles, and his own admissions of reckless partying before fights. Crawford, now 36, has long credited his longevity to strict personal standards.
“I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I don’t really party. Your body is a temple,” Crawford explained. Watching family members struggle with addiction only strengthened his resolve.
“I never understood why people want to be so messed up that they don’t even know what’s going on around them.”
That philosophy could not be more different from Jones‘ past approach. On the Joe Rogan Experience, the UFC star admitted that before major fights, he would deliberately party hard so that if he lost, he could blame it on drinking.
He also tested positive for banned substances in the past, sparking debates about whether his dominance was natural talent or chemically enhanced.
Yet Crawford‘s admiration suggests that Jones’ in-cage achievements are too significant to ignore. “He’s just special,” Crawford added. “Whatever else, you can’t deny what he’s done in there.”
Jones and the White House card debate
Jones‘ name is once again making headlines as talk swirls around the UFC’s most ambitious event yet: a July 4, 2026 fight card staged on the White House lawn to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. The historic spectacle is expected to draw more than 20,000 fans and global attention.
While Conor McGregor has already started drug testing procedures in hopes of making the lineup, UFC president Dana White has publicly cast doubt on Jones’ chances.
Calling him a “billion-to-one long shot,” White cited lingering trust issues after Jones retired abruptly, pulled out of fights, and dealt with repeated controversies.
Chael Sonnen, never shy with his opinions, agrees that Jones has not earned the right to headline such a prestigious card.
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Sonnen argued: “No one is going to take those glorious spots except for the people who earned them by showing their loyalty back to the industry. Jon does not deserve to have a main event spot on the White House card.”
Jones, however, insists he is ready to return. He has re-entered the testing pool, resumed training, and described the possibility of fighting at the White House as a “greater purpose.”
Legacy on the line
The contrast between Crawford and Jones illustrates two very different paths to greatness. Crawford represents the classic formula of sacrifice and discipline, while Jones embodies raw talent and controversy in equal measure.
For Crawford, the admiration is not about lifestyle but about legacy, and Jones‘ resume speaks for itself.
For UFC leadership, though, legacy is not enough. With one of the most high-profile events in company history on the horizon, questions linger about whether Jones can be trusted with the spotlight.
Fans remain divided: some echo Crawford‘s respect for Jones‘ unmatched skills, while others agree with Sonnen that his past missteps disqualify him from such an honor.
What is clear is that even in semi-retirement, Jones’ name remains central to the conversation – a fighter whose brilliance and baggage cannot be separated.
And when one of boxing’s greatest champions calls him the best, it only sharpens the debate over how his career should truly be remembered.
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