Despite being one of the most dominant stars in UFC history, Jon Jones remains humble about his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey. The two-division UFC champion recently discussed his purple belt status and his path toward potentially earning a black belt in the future.
Jones, who trains under respected BJJ coach Roberto “Tussa” Alencar at Gracie Barra, revealed that he’s been with the academy for approximately six or seven years. Despite his extraordinary combat sports achievements, Jones respects the traditional progression system within BJJ.
“I don’t like to train in the gi because I compete bare-chested with no gi,” Jones explained during a recent interview. “My professor tells me that in order for me to ever become a black belt, I need to spend an adequate amount of time in the gi.”
This traditional approach from his coach demonstrates the respect for BJJ’s established progression system, even for someone of Jones’s caliber. Alencar maintains a traditional philosophy when it comes to belt promotions, following the guidelines set by the Confederação Brasileira de Jiu-Jitsu (CBJJ).
The UFC champion seems to have a good-natured perspective about his belt rank. “Sometimes I like to make fun when the guys tease me about being a purple belt,” Jones shared. “I also remind them that I have the ultimate gold belt in combat sports.”
However, Jones clearly holds the black belt distinction in high regard, viewing it as a meaningful achievement separate from his UFC success. “Being a black belt definitely symbolizes a lot of patience and just years spent committed,” he reflected. “It’s something for me to aspire towards getting after I retire from the Octagon.”
According to Alencar, Jones’s MMA schedule makes consistent gi training difficult. The coach explained that typical BJJ progression requires training at least twice weekly in a gi—something many MMA professionals struggle to accommodate alongside their fight preparations.
Despite this challenge, Alencar emphasizes the importance of Jones understanding modern BJJ techniques, including lapel sweeps, grip strategies, and the broader philosophy of the art. More than just techniques, Alencar believes Jiu-Jitsu has positively influenced Jones’s character development.
“I believe that Jiu-Jitsu has been influencing him. In the humility that Jiu-Jitsu makes him humble daily,” Alencar noted.
For now, Jones continues balancing his championship MMA career with his BJJ development, demonstrating that even at the pinnacle of combat sports, there’s always more to learn and achieve on the mats.
