'Conor self-destructed': Joe Rogan puts Jon Jones in different category than McGregor

Joe Rogan highlighted one major difference in the way Jon Jones and Conor McGregor have navigated their careers.

Both Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC) and McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) have risen to undeniable heights in their UFC careers, but have also found themselves in various legal woes.

Despite all the controversy surrounding his career, Jones has remained on top by reigning over the UFC’s light heavyweight division for years, then moving up to heavyweight to claim the belt. He successfully defended his heavyweight title this past Saturday with a Round 3 TKO of Stipe Miocic in the UFC 309 headliner.

Meanwhile, McGregor hasn’t been able to maintain his success in the cage. A former UFC dual-champion, McGregor is coming off back-to-back stoppage losses to Dustin Poirier, and hasn’t fought since breaking his leg in his rematch with “The Diamond” in July 2021.

“Jon’s in a different category,” Rogan said on his “Joe Rogan Experience.” “Conor self-destructed in a lot of ways because of money. He took that fight with Floyd Mayweather, made a ton of money off that, and then took a long time before he came back to MMA, and he’s just not been the same guy since.

“And I think that’s just – it’s money, it’s a lot of partying, but it’s the same kind of thing. It’s just a wild (change). But when Conor was in his prime, he was a f*cking assassin.”

Rogan went on to rave about Jones’ accolades. Minus a disqualification blemish to Matt Hamill early in his career, “Bones” never has tasted defeat, and has taken out generations of talent.

“Jon is a special dude,” Rogan said. “When he’s gone, we’re all going to miss him. He’s a different kind of guy. I mean, he’s been at the top for 14 f*cking years. He was the youngest guy to ever win a UFC title, 23. … But when Jon Jones won that title at 23, it’s just been destruction of everyone ever since. Never ducked anybody, fought all the best, destroyed everybody, and dominated his division, (then) went up to heavyweight, dominates at heavyweight.”