In the fight world, nicknames and fighters go hand in hand, often helping to contribute to a fighter’s narrative and also market fights. In the UFC, we’ve seen a plethora of quirky names come and go, but one that has stood the test of time is ‘Bones’ – the fight moniker of Jon Jones. A king in two divisions, Jones has been a symbol of fear in the promotion since his debut, dismantling opponent after opponent, and making it look easy. A decade-and-a-half later, he’s still dominating.

Here’s a shocking fact—Jon Jones’ famous nickname, ‘Bones,’ wasn’t his original fight moniker! Well before signing with the UFC, Jones went by a different moniker, one that fans would have a field day with if he still had that nickname today. So, what was the fight moniker that, at one point, had the most dominant champion in UFC history second guess his choice? Let’s find out!

Why was Jon Jones called ‘Sexual Chocolate’?

The UFC heavyweight kingpin Jon Jones is no longer associated with the nickname “Sexual Chocolate,” a moniker tied to his early days in regional circuits. Earlier this year, a video resurfaced showing Jones’ win over Moyses Gabin in 2008, where the announcer called him by this nickname after the victory, much to the amusement of fans.

Reflecting on his old moniker with embarrassment, the two-weight champion said, “My original fight nickname used to be Sexual Chocolate, what in the hell was I thinking?”. It’s a moment many of us can relate to—cringe-worthy choices from our younger years that still haunt us. However, with the moniker of ‘Bones’, Jones has built a legacy in fighting and etched his name in UFC history with a record that seems near-unbeatable. It makes one wonder though – What brought about the change from ‘Sexual Chocolate’ to the legendary ‘Bones’? Read on, to find out.

Meaning behind ‘Bones’, Jon Jones’ current nickname

With his transition to the world’s biggest mixed martial arts stage, Jon Jones ditched his old fight moniker for ‘Bones,’ – a nickname he was given in high school, but with origins far from martial arts. He was nicknamed ‘Bones’ by his high school football teammates not because he broke bones but because he was tall with a skinny frame and particularly skinny legs.

In a candid interview, Jones reflected on his high school days, saying, “I was a football player that couldn’t catch. I couldn’t throw, but I was really tall and skinny. They put me on the defensive line with these huge shoulder pads and a really big helmet. When you looked at my upper body, I looked like a really big guy, but I had these little chicken legs coming out of the uniform. So everyone started calling me ‘Bones’ and my brother ‘Beefy,’ so I kept the name.”

However, Jones used those same ‘skinny legs’ to oblique kick his opponents and sent Daniel Cormier to the shadow realm in their second outing. As a light heavyweight, Jon Jones had a particularly skinny, yet muscular build. With the jump to heavyweight, Jon Jones put on significant amounts of muscles, naturally. One can say, “he put some flesh on those ‘Bones'” by going up a weight class!

Now all eyes are on the upcoming UFC 309 this weekend, where Jon ‘Bones’ Jones is set to face off in what many are speculating could be his last fight in the octagon. He’ll defend his heavyweight title against former two-time champion Stipe Miocic. The big question remains—can Jon, once again, dominate and ‘break his opponent’s bones’ to stay undefeated? Stay tuned for further updates!