Jon Jones has released his first official statement regarding the passing of his older brother Arthur Jones III.
Legendary two-division UFC champion Jones and the remainder of the sporting world were left in disbelief this month when Super Bowl champion Arthur III passed away on the age of just 39. The previous NFL star retired from football at 31 after a standout profession as a defensive tackle.
Arthur was the eldest of three brothers, all of whom appeared to inherit the ‘super athlete’ gene from their grandmother. Jon is arguably the best UFC fighter of all time, while youngest brother Chandler can also be a Super Bowl champion.
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Jon Jones releases first statement on brother Arthur’s shock passing
After allowing for 3 weeks of relative silence save for a number of temporary messages, Jon Jones allowed himself to divulge heart’s contents to fans on social media overnight.
He had previously reacted to Alex Pereira’s touching tribute to his brother, and shared a message about funeral details on X. He also sent a message to Arthur’s son and shared a promotional post for his fight promoting Dirty Boxing Championship.
Nonetheless, he made a more pointed statement on Wednesday night, sharing a video of him and his siblings and writing a lengthy tribute to his older brother.
“In Loving Memory of Arthur W. Jones lll,” he began. “Arthur was not only a Super Bowl champion but a father, spouse, son, brother, everyone’s best friend, a delicate giant whose kindness and generosity knew no bounds.
“He had a love for the outside, whether it was duck hunting, fishing, or riding 4 wheelers along with his family, he brought pure joy, warmth and laughter to each moment spent around him. Arthur’s generosity prolonged far beyond his family and friends.
“He was all the time involved in local charities and gave back to the scholars and the community with an open heart.
“His legacy inspires me day by day. Our dad Arthur Jones Jr, me, Chandler, Arthur Jones IV, and the remainder of the family are committed to moving forward striving to be the perfect versions of ourselves, just as he would have wanted.
“King Arthur will truly be missed, he’s gone way too soon, but his spirit will survive in our hearts ceaselessly. Rest easy, big bro, you deserve it, you probably did amazing.”