UFC 1 Veteran Ken Shamrock Writes Open Letter to Jon Jones
Ken
Shamrock has seen his share of ups and downs as an MMA star. |
Chris Dela Cruz/Sherdog.com
Ken Shamrock was there when the UFC was introduced to the world, and at 51 years old, “The World’s Most Dangerous Man” is still actively competing in mixed martial arts today.
Over the course of his 45-bout professional career, Shamrock has seen all the highs and lows that prizefighting can bring. With that in mind, Shamrock has a message for Jon Jones, who was recently suspended by the UFC and stripped of his light heavyweight title.
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Shamrock is scheduled to headline Bellator 138 against Kevin Ferguson on June 19. His full letter to Jones is as follows:
Few others can understand the enticement of the lust of life
when the world says “yes” to your every desire. At these times,
anything you want is at your fingertips: free meals, expensive
gifts, amazing opportunities, big sponsorships, money, girls, and
just about every desire being met on demand.
One day, everything changes. Speaking from experience, the decisions we make eventually catches up to us. These consequences, from the seeds that we have sown, are very real and seldom easy to deal with. Fame is often a road paved with heartbreak. It’s a black hole that has the ability to engulf a distracted soul.
Unfortunately, you must sleep in the bed that you made. You did this to yourself, and you have issues that need to be dealt with. It’s important that you understand that all your troubles today are a bi-product of your actions. Once you truly understand this, then you can begin to heal what has been broken and move forward once again.
Jon, you are a true champion who has accomplished heights that few others will ever reach. Use your same internal strengths and determination that helped you become a world champion to fight though this hard season and yourself. Your next fight is with yourself.
Ironically, a documentary film is soon (June) to be released about me called The Greatest Fight. The greatest fight was ultimately with myself. I lived through the hardships that my actions caused me and hope others can learn from my past mistakes. The lust of the flesh (i.e. fame, money, sex, and drugs) blinded me and the bottom had to drop out before I could see clearly, rebuild, and rise up once again.
Jon, do NOT give up on yourself. You have risen to amazing levels in your career, and your fans need to see you learn from your mistakes and rise above them. It’s time to re-focus where focus has been lost. It’s very important that you get back to the your strong faith in Christ and allow Him to be your strength and guiding light though this season and beyond. Let this be a beginning of a testimony to help others. Although your fate is in your hands and no one else’s, I encourage you to draw close to those who are strongest in your circles and allow them to help you, too.
This is not the end, but your beginning. Fight the fight.
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