Jon Hess

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Jon Hess is an American Martial Artist, early Mixed Martial Arts competitor and the co-founder of the Scientific Aggressive Fighting Technology of America, or S.A.F.T.A., a martial art with roots in San Soo Kung Fu, focusing primarily on real life applications.

Hess, along with S.A.F.T.A. co-founder Lew Hicks, was a students of Jerry Peterson, the founder of S.C.A.R.S. They took their San Soo Kung Fu black belt test together in 1993, and Hicks was chosen by Hess to manage him for the UFC. Hicks was offered a spot in the UFC as an alternate but refused, as he was only 5'6" tall, 175 lbs. and was concerned about the large size of some of the other competitors.

Hess fought in Ultimate Fighting Championship 5 and beat his opponent Andy Anderson by TKO at one minute twenty-two seconds into the fight. Hess claims to have later been blacklisted from the UFC and never allowed to return, due to a contractual dispute with then promoter Art Davies. Hess has since challenged the UFC to allow him to return, an offer which they have yet to take him up on. [1] After UFC 5 Hess fired Lew Hicks as his manager and they went their separate ways, creating two separate schools of S.A.F.T.A. Hess retained the original meaning for the name, while Hicks has changed it and claims to be a teacher of various military and law enforcement agencies.^{[citation needed]}

Hess stands 6' 7", 245 lbs. as of December 2006 and has an 82" reach. He had 16 bare knuckle wins^{[citation needed]} prior to UFC 5, but then fought Vitor Belfort on four days notice while 125 lbs. overweight and out of shape a year later at SB 2-SuperBrawl 2, where he lost by KO. In order to get Hess to agree to the fight, Belfort claimed he was Royce Gracie's younger brother, calling himself "Victor Gracie" and challenging Hess, apparently due to a grudge held against Hess by Royce Gracie.^{[citation needed]} Hess has not fought professionally since this loss, but has stated in an interview [2] with Sherdog that if he was allowed to come back he would be "world champ" and that Belfort was "on steroids" when he beat him. Belfort received a suspension for using a banned substance in 2006.^{[citation needed]}

Hess has since challenged Belfort to a rematch, which Belfort has so far refused, feeling that he has nothing to gain by fighting someone with a professional MMA record of 1-1 who hasn't fought in years.^{[citation needed]} Hess has apologized to his fans for losing to Belfort and vows to avenge the only loss in his life. He is rumored to be fighting in PRIDE Fighting Championship late 2007 or early 2008, and claims to have lost 75 lbs of fat, be "in world class shape" and is reportedly more familiar with submissions and grappling. ^{[citation needed]} He has credited Jerry Peterson for teaching him how to fight and has a MBA from National University. He is also considered a self taught expert in sports nutrition.^{[citation needed]} Hess claims to have received many offers from MMA fight promoters to return to fighting, offers which he has so far turned down. However, he has said that he wants to return to the UFC before he turns 40 in July, 2009.