Undefeated Bellator heavyweight and wrestling superstar Jake Hager recently sat down Renee Paquette and Anthony Smith for the Throwing Down podcast and discussed the proposed grappling match he might be having with UFC legend Jon Jones:
“I don’t know what’s going on. I’m training, I’m ready, as far as I know, it’s on, then it got quiet on his end. I don’t know if he [Jones] saw my resume, and was like: “Ooh this is an Oklahoman country boy, I don’t know if I want to wrestle him.” Maybe he saw that I wrestle for AEW and he got a little scared. Everybody wants to work for AEW, so maybe he wants to get a job. Jon, come out of hiding, prove that you’re still the GOAT.”
Jake Hager also explained how the grappling match between him and Jon Jones actually came about in the first place. That’s something that a lot of fans would be interested in no doubt, seeing as it came virtually out of nowhere and neither of these men have any prior connection:
“I was at dinner one night and got the phone call from my head coach, Josh Crabtree. And he said: “What’s up, man? I got a great situation for ya. You should say yes before I even tell you what it is.” Alright, I love Josh, he’s the man. So I’m like: “Yes!” He tells me and I’m still like yes, let’s make it happen.”
Jon Jones did actually announce the match himself initially, but he got into hot water with Jake Hager not only for announcing the match before any terms had been agreed, but also for getting both his name and the promotion he wrestles for wrong in the process. Hager did also talk about this interaction and although he was a little more forgiving, he stood by his words:
“So, as far as I know, we were waiting [for] the negotiations and everything. He jumped the gun a little bit, made that Twitter announcement, we hadn’t had anything signed. I know my response was harsh, but you got to get my name right and my company name right.”
