Hardly any fighters achieve success on the level of Jon Jones, whether in the present or in the past.
That’s why every single Canterbury player showed up at Belmore Oval on Friday morning, even though they were supposed to have a day off.
And what prompted this?
Not only did Jon Jones spend over two hours with Bulldogs players, guiding them through various physical challenges, but he also openly discussed the insights behind what could be considered one of the greatest UFC careers.
Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo described the impact of this interaction as “incredible.”
In a remarkable pre-season move, Fox Sports Australia has disclosed that UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones arrived in Australia on Friday, went through customs, and immediately headed to Belmore to meet the entire Bulldogs NRL squad.
Despite it being a scheduled day off from training, every player attended the session. Initially planned for Tuesday but rescheduled due to Jones’ delayed arrival in Australia, the session saw the champion spending several hours at the Bulldogs headquarters, primarily discussing “mindset.”
Reflecting on his appearance, the 36-year-old American superstar mentioned, “I feel like the most impactful part of today was our Q&A, just letting the players in on the mindset of a champion athlete.”
“And I hope that something I shared today resonates with them.”
Certainly, Ciraldo expressed no uncertainty.
When asked to characterize the day, the Bulldogs head coach told Fox Sports Australia: “A once-in-a-lifetime experience. For the players to learn about the dedication required for mental preparation… Jon emphasized that he devotes more time to mental conditioning than physical training. Hearing him discuss his preparation for a UFC title fight and the value he places on those techniques was truly enlightening for our players.”
This aspect is often overlooked about Jones, who, besides being one of the UFC’s most talented athletes and its youngest champion at one point, has recently spent three years preparing for his second title in a different weight class.
“Jon has maintained his dominance in the sport for so long,” Ciraldo continued. “You can’t sustain that unless you have a clear understanding of your goals and values.”
“So, for him to delve into all that—providing intricate details—it’s been an extraordinary learning opportunity for our players. He not only discussed the importance of additional training but also explained to the players what his additional training entails.”
This is significant.
“Our players are currently training at a high level,” Ciraldo remarked. “We’re physically prepared. So our primary area for improvement will be mental toughness.”
The experience with Jon Jones adds to Ciraldo’s longstanding and successful collaboration with UFC fighters. Ciraldo was the one who brought Australia’s first UFC champion, Rob Whittaker, onto the staff during his tenure at Penrith.
Whittaker, along with fellow UFC fighter Jacob Malkoun and their respected head coach Alex Prates, were all part of the Panthers’ defensive team during two premiership seasons and are now working with Ciraldo at Belmore.
Currently, Team Whittaker is based in California, with the fighter nicknamed ‘Bobby Knuckles’ set to compete against Brazilian Paulo Costa at UFC 298 in Anaheim this Sunday (AEST).
The highly anticipated event will be headlined by Australia’s UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski defending his title for the sixth time against Ilia Topuria, while Brisbane heavyweight Justin Tafa is also seeking another impressive knockout.
When asked about his players training alongside Whittaker and his team, Ciraldo commented, “We have a fantastic relationship with those guys and often have Rob training alongside us at his Smeaton Grange gym.”
He will be working right by us while we are exercising.
“And to have it is such a blessing.
“For our players to witness his degree of readiness as well.
After that, to bring Jon Jones into camp… It’s been a wonderful encounter.
During his initial stop in Sydney for a short Australia tour, Jones collaborated with Lifecykel Labs, a biotechnical company, and Better Breathing Devices to organize a performance challenge for the Bulldogs players.
Each challenge was meticulously crafted to assess a player’s concentration and determination under pressure. Following each challenge, Jones provided feedback on individual performances and offered insights into areas for improvement.
The challenges encompassed a variety of exercises such as push-ups, sprints, and maximum effort on an Echo bike. Additionally, there was a unique “gas in the tank” challenge designed to test lung capacity.
Aaron Warburton, Bulldogs CEO, remarked, “I can confidently say that today’s experience has been enriching for all our players and staff. Learning from Jon’s mindset, understanding his mental and physical preparation, and observing how he effectively resets during adversity has been invaluable. It’s a privilege to have him here.”
