UFC Star Jon Jones Struggles in Celebrity Flag Football Game

Jones, considered one of the greatest MMA fighters, was dominated by NBA legend Dwight Howard in a Super Bowl week matchup.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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In a celebrity flag football game held during Super Bowl week in Berkeley, California, UFC star Jon Jones was thoroughly outmatched by NBA legend Dwight Howard. Video footage showed Jones struggling to cover Howard, who easily beat him on a post route. Jones later revealed he deals with severe arthritis in his hip, which may have contributed to his poor performance on the football field.

Why it matters

The mismatch between Jones, considered one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time, and Howard, a dominant NBA center, highlights the differences between athletic abilities in various sports. It also raises questions about Jones' physical condition and whether his arthritis issues could impact his MMA career going forward.

The details

The celebrity flag football game took place on Thursday at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, as part of Super Bowl week festivities. Video of the matchup showed Jones, who is the brother of two NFL standouts, being easily beaten by the 6'10" Howard on a simple post route. Jones later acknowledged he deals with "severe arthritis" in his hip, which likely contributed to his struggles on the football field.

  • The celebrity flag football game was held on Thursday, February 6, 2026.
  • Jones revealed his arthritis issues earlier this week, prior to the game.

The players

Jon Jones

Considered one of the greatest UFC fighters of all time, with a dominant MMA career, but struggled in the celebrity flag football game.

Dwight Howard

NBA legend and dominant center, who easily beat Jones in the flag football matchup.

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What they’re saying

“If you consider Jon Jones to be the greatest UFC fighter of all time, that's fine. I disagree (it's Georges St-Pierre for me), but if you think it's Jones, OK. And while he might be the GOAT of mixed martial arts, when it comes to playing football, Jones stinks.”

— Simon Samano, Author (yahoo.com)

The takeaway

This mismatch between an MMA star and an NBA legend in a flag football game highlights the differences in athletic abilities across sports, and raises questions about whether Jones' reported arthritis issues could impact his future MMA career.