Tyson Fury expresses his strong displeasure towards Joe Rogan, referring to him as a “little s***bag,” for initiating an “absolutely ridiculous” debate about Jon Jones. The controversy began when Fury responded to a segment on Rogan’s widely popular podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, which centered around the hypothetical matchup between Fury and UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Rogan confidently asserted that Jones would emerge victorious if the two were confined in a room and only one could leave.
Rogan’s remarks provoked a profane reaction from Fury and ignited a heated exchange between Fury and Jones. Even former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou and UFC president Dana White got involved, with the latter advocating for a fight between Jones and Fury to settle the dispute.
For Fury, the entire discussion has become excessive and ludicrous. During a recent Q&A session at the Bangtao Muay Thai & MMA Gym in Phuket, Thailand, Fury expressed his thoughts on the matter. As reported by Bloody Elbow, he stated, “To be honest with you, all this talk of me and Jon Jones fighting in a cage is absolutely ridiculous. I am the lineal world heavyweight champion, the man who beat the man dating back to John L. Sullivan. Why would I even entertain the idea of entering a cage and wrestling? It’s not my domain.”
Fury specifically blamed Joe Rogan, whom he referred to as a “little s***bag,” for starting the controversy without any prior discussion about a potential fight between Fury and Jones. Fury acknowledged Jones as a great fighter, perhaps the greatest of all time in mixed martial arts (MMA). However, Fury emphasized that Rogan’s comment was not about an MMA or boxing fight but rather about being in a room together, with Fury not walking out alive. Fury questioned the origin of the debate and clarified that he had never claimed he would step into a cage with Jones to have his arm broken. He had offered Jones the opportunity to enter the boxing ring for a lucrative fight, but MMA was out of the question.
Earlier, Fury had claimed that the UFC had sent him a formal offer for a “hybrid rules fight” with Jones via a live Twitter Space session. However, no concrete plans for such a fight materialized.
Fury also addressed his previous exchanges with Francis Ngannou, highlighting the historical failures of boxers transitioning to MMA fights under MMA rules. Fury pointed out that he had proposed fighting Ngannou in a cage under boxing rules, but Ngannou seemed apprehensive about the idea.
Fury concluded by stating that he had no interest in participating in MMA fights, as boxers generally do not fare well in such matchups. He mentioned the sole example of Ray Mercer defeating Tim Sylvia with a single punch but highlighted that other boxers, including James Toney, were quickly defeated by MMA fighters due to the different skill sets required. Fury made it clear that if MMA fighters wanted to enter his world of boxing, they were welcome to do so.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about MMA controversy
What sparked the controversy between Tyson Fury and Joe Rogan?
The controversy between Tyson Fury and Joe Rogan was sparked by a segment on Rogan’s podcast where he predicted that Jon Jones would defeat Fury in a hypothetical situation. This prompted Fury’s profane response and led to a heated back-and-forth between Fury, Jones, and even other figures like Francis Ngannou and Dana White.
Did Tyson Fury express interest in fighting Jon Jones in MMA?
No, Tyson Fury made it clear that he has no interest in fighting Jon Jones in MMA. Fury emphasized that he is a boxer and the lineal world heavyweight champion, and the idea of entering a cage and wrestling is not his domain. While he offered Jones the opportunity to enter the boxing ring for a fight, Fury firmly rejected any possibility of participating in an MMA fight.
Did the UFC send an offer for a “hybrid rules fight” between Fury and Jones?
Tyson Fury claimed that the UFC had sent him a formal offer for a “hybrid rules fight” with Jon Jones, but no concrete plans for such a fight materialized. It’s unclear whether the offer was genuine or if discussions progressed beyond Fury’s statement.
What is Fury’s stance on boxers transitioning to MMA fights?
Fury highlighted the historical failures of boxers transitioning to MMA fights under MMA rules. He mentioned that while there have been a few exceptions, the majority of boxers have struggled when faced with the different skill sets required in MMA. Fury made it clear that he has no interest in participating in MMA fights and believes that boxers fare better in the realm of boxing.
Is Fury open to MMA fighters entering the world of boxing?
Yes, Tyson Fury stated that if MMA fighters wanted to enter his world of boxing, they were more than welcome to do so. He expressed his willingness to face MMA fighters in a boxing match and emphasized that if they wanted to engage in stand-up punching combat, he would be ready to compete.
More about MMA controversy
- Tyson Fury Fires Back at Joe Rogan Over Jon Jones Debate
- Tyson Fury: “All this talk of me and Jon Jones fighting in a cage is absolutely ridiculous”
- Tyson Fury on Joe Rogan, Jon Jones, and MMA: “It won’t be something that I’m interested in, at all”
- Tyson Fury on boxers transitioning to MMA fights
- Tyson Fury: “If them lads want to come over into my boxing world, then they are more than welcome”
