An ex-Husker's journey through the MMA ranks: 'I found a new avenue'

That two-letter word — and some motherly advice — has taken Jones, a former Nebraska walk-on running back, to the No. 1-ranked MMA welterweight in Colorado and the 41st overall in the country.
“I had an idea in my head and an idea of what I wanted to do,” Jones said. “I wanted to be a DI football player and people were like, ‘No man, you don’t have a chance and you probably won’t touch the field.
“For me, my mom always told me, ‘Don’t let someone define you. The only person that should define you is yourself.’ When someone always tells me I can’t do something that always inspires me. Even if I fail at it I’m going to get up and try again. It’s not over until I say it’s over.”
Jones received minimal recruiting interest despite posting strong stats as a running back at Smoky Hill High School in Aurora, Colorado. Still, he was determined to reach the sport’s highest stage.
He eventually carved a path as a reserve running back at Nebraska after being the last man standing in a 30-man tryout in 2007.
Jones appeared in 16 games at Nebraska, totaling 114 yards and a touchdown. Then, Jones, nicknamed “Osmosis,” found a new career path.
The Octagon.
On an otherwise typical night in Lincoln in 2009, Jones and some friends went to the Fat Toad on O Street — the only place in town that was broadcasting that night’s UFC event.
From that night on, Jones’ path after football became clearer.
“I didn’t want to give up on my ability,” Jones said. “I felt like it was something that was God-given and I didn’t want my natural talent to go to waste. I found a new avenue. It’s definitely not an easy path after football. It’s a lot of mentally lonely nights, not being able to play anymore. Just training alone, if you take out the competition, was a good outlet for me.”
Jones became connected with two-time WWE champion and mixed martial artist Bobby Lashley in Denver. His new career path was taking shape.
“(Lashley) kind of took me under his wing and helped me with my wrestling and pushed me hard,” Jones said. “He’s a heavyweight and I felt like if I could go with the heavyweights, I should be able to go with anyone in my weight class.
Jones later ended up at Factory X and started training with Marc Montoya. Omaha native and UFC fighter Anthony Smith also trains at Factory X.
Jones has won 13 of 23 pro bouts, the latest being a defeat to Jacobe Smith in a Fury Fighting Championships event. Jones says the octagon has offered a new perspective. It’s not all about the wins and losses or the money.
It’s also not all about the sport’s pinnacle organization — UFC — even though Jones has been connected to UFC president Dana White.
“At the time when I had met (White), in my mind, I thought I was ready,” Jones said. “I know I have the physical attributes behind it, but a lot of this has to do with the mental side of the game and spiritual side of the game. Putting that all together.
Everyone has their time period as long as they stick with it and continue to grow as a fighter. If I’m going to do this I’m looking to become a world champion. It seems a little blurry right now, the future, but I’ve seen several guys in our gym work themselves to a world title and a lot of that has to do with who you surround yourself with and push you. … Otherwise, I would have stopped a long time ago.”
Jones has had the highs and the lows as a fighter, but he’s also reached heights that he never expected to encounter.
“I’ve always seemed to accomplish my goals,” Jones said. “I got my BJJ (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) black belt this year, I’ve been No. 1 as an amateur and I just got the No. 1 spot as a pro in Colorado. Now the next stop is No. 1 in the world. I don’t know how I’m going to get there, but I’m going to keep pushing myself until it happens.”
Jones also boasts regional rankings in the United States West (No. 11), Southwest (No. 7) and Texas (No. 4).
“I know you don’t want to get too caught up in it because it is what it is, but it’s just cool to see how far you have come,” Jones said. “Sometimes it’s obviously important to bare your head and go to work and keep pushing towards your goals. But when you actually see it happen it’s like ‘Wow, that’s pretty amazing.’ … It just reminds you the hard work is paying off, but that’s not the ultimate of why I do it.”