Arthur Jones, brother of Jon Jones, dies at 39

Arthur Jones, a former NFL defensive tackle and the older brother of UFC champion Jon Jones, died Friday at age 39, his family and local authorities said, though they have not released a cause of death. The former Baltimore Ravens player was remembered this week across the combat sports community for his competitive drive and the role he played in shaping his family's athletic success.

Tributes arrived from fighters, promoters and other figures in mixed martial arts. Conor McGregor offered condolences, and UFC president Dana White, veteran fighter Tony Ferguson and others publicly expressed sympathy. Olympic gold medalist and former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo reflected on Jones’s influence on Jon Jones’s toughness and development, describing Arthur as “the most genuine dude” and recalling how Arthur pushed his younger brother in wrestling and training. “He gave me the biggest hug,” Cejudo said, recounting a moment after Jon Jones’s victory that underscored Arthur’s presence in the family’s life.

Arthur Jones’s athletic background extended beyond the NFL. Before turning to professional football he was a two-time New York State high school wrestling heavyweight...