I had a pistol next to me

Safe to say UFC legend Jon Jones has lived a turbulent life. From failed drug tests to multiple run-ins with the law, ‘Bones’ has repeatedly found himself embroiled in controversy throughout his career.

However, there came a point in life when a series of personal tragedies and career setbacks pushed him to his breaking point, leaving the former UFC two-division champion feeling that he was done with life. During an interview with ALF Global, Jones said:

“Oh man, I went through a time in life where everything was going wrong. I had gotten suspended from the UFC, my mom had died, I got accused of steroids, and then two of my dogs had died. All like within the same, like maybe quarter of a year. And man, I just got to an all-time low. I just felt like I wanted my life to be over.”

Jones later revealed how an old friend inadvertently changed the course of one of the darkest days of his life:

“I had a day where I was crying. I was very depressed, and I had a pistol next to me. And I got a phone call from a friend, a FaceTime from a friend that I hadn’t spoken to in a very long time. And immediately he asked, ‘What’s wrong?’ and started crying on the phone with me. And we both cried, and I don’t really remember exactly how the conversation went, but I woke up a few hours later, and I was just okay. I was just okay… I do feel as if God sent my friend to call me and saved my life.”

Check out Jon Jones‘ comments below:

Jon Jones explains why he can’t quit and needs to thrive

Jon Jones believes issues such as men’s mental health and depression do not receive the attention or open discussion they deserve. As one of the most recognizable figures in combat sports, ‘Bones’ believes he has a responsibility to lead by example.

During an interview with Vic Blends, the former UFC heavyweight champion explained why giving up was never an option and what motivates him to keep pushing forward in life, saying:

“I’ve had so many people tell me, ‘I wanted to kill myself. And when I saw the way you completely made an a** of yourself and came back and won a championship again, it helped me to fight another day.’ So when I hear messages like that from young men and women, it just gives me more strength. It’s just like, ‘John, no matter what you go through, you can’t quit.’ Not only can you not quit, but you have to thrive to show people that the worst of the worst, the baddest of apples, can turn around and be huge inspirations in this world.”