Phoenix Jones facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Phoenix Jones
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Jones without his mask in 2013
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| Born |
Benjamin John Francis Fodor
May 25, 1988 Texas, U.S.
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| Known for | Confronting alleged lawbreakers while dressed in a superhero costume. |
| Relatives | Caros Fodor (brother) |
Phoenix Jones (born Benjamin John Francis Fodor; May 25, 1988) is an American who became known as a "real-life superhero." He also competes as a mixed martial artist. Phoenix Jones started by wearing a ski mask to help someone during a public attack. Later, he created a full superhero costume and chose "Phoenix Jones" as his superhero name. From 2011 to 2014, Jones led a group called the Rain City Superhero Movement. This group was based in Seattle, Washington, and aimed to help prevent crime.
Jones believes that wearing a "supersuit" helps police know he is not a criminal. However, local police have worried that his unusual costumes might make people call 911 because they think the "superheroes" are actually criminals. Jones has stated that everyone in the Rain City Superhero Movement has a background in the military or in mixed martial arts.
Jones has fought for the World Series of Fighting. He has also competed against his older foster brother, Caros Fodor, who is a fighter for UFC, Strikeforce, and ONE Championship.
Contents
Becoming Phoenix Jones
Jones says he decided to take action himself after a few events changed his view of Seattle. First, his car was broken into, and his son was hurt by broken glass when they returned to the vehicle. Jones learned that many people saw the break-in but did not help. Later, Jones saw a friend being badly attacked outside a bar. After calling 911, he put on the ski mask he had from the car incident. He then "made a commotion" until the police arrived. He wondered, "Why didn't someone help him? There were seventy people outside that bar and no one did anything."
Jones then designed a complete costume and a superhero name. This was because his crime-fighting actions made him too easy to recognize. In a CBS news report, Jones was shown changing into his costume in a back room of a comic book store. His costume includes a Dragon Skin brand bulletproof vest and stab plating. He also carries tools like a stun baton, pepper spray or tear gas, handcuffs, and a first aid kit.
Jones later joined the Rain City Superhero Movement. In July 2011, local police noted ten people patrolling the city in superhero costumes. They used names like Thorn, Buster Doe, Green Reaper, The Mantis, Gemini, No Name, Catastrophe, Thunder 88, Penelope, and Phoenix Jones. Another person, known as "Red Dragon," also said they were part of the group.
Phoenix Jones in the News
Helping People and Stopping Crime
- On January 2, 2011, in Lynnwood, Phoenix Jones stopped a car thief. The car owner, who was called "Dan," was shocked as Jones quickly acted. CBS News introduced Dan and Phoenix Jones the next day. Dan thanked Jones many times and talked about Phoenix's gear.
- On September 24, 2011, in Seattle's Belltown area, a bus driver was giving out flyers. Another person tried to steal the bus. Jones reportedly stepped in, and the hijacker got away. Jones said he did not get help from Seattle police, who took hours to arrive.
- On November 27, 2011, near Seattle's Belltown area, Phoenix Jones and his team followed a man accused of hurting another person. They stopped the attacker from running away until the Seattle police arrived.
- On January 6, 2012, Phoenix Jones and his team broke up a fight. This happened at the same place where a shooting occurred on New Year's Eve in Belltown.
- On May 1, 2012, a blogger claimed Phoenix Jones used pepper spray on protesters in downtown Seattle. However, Jones denied this on Twitter. In an interview on the Bob Rivers Show on May 2, Phoenix Jones said he was undercover with the protesters. He claimed some of them told him about a plan to bomb the city courthouse. According to Phoenix Jones, he told the police but got no support. So, he and another member of the Rain City Superhero Movement stopped the protesters at the courthouse. He said they acted in self-defense as protesters threw rocks and bottles at the courthouse windows and doors. Other costumed activists, El Caballero and Midnightjack, were with Phoenix Jones.
- In November 2012, Jones was in the news for getting into a fight where both people agreed to fight.
- On March 27, 2015, in New Haven, Connecticut, Phoenix Jones was about to speak at The Institute Library. Before his talk, he stopped a man from being hurt by holding off a group of men until police came. The host of the event, Jack Hitt, held the superhero's backpack. Phoenix Jones later jokingly called him "Blue Corduroy."
- On September 20, 2015, in Seattle, Washington, Jones saw three men attacking another man. The three attackers were arrested for assault. One was also charged with having a gun as a felon.
- On March 22, 2016, in Seattle, Washington, Jones tried to help police talk down the "man in tree." This man had climbed an 80-foot sequoia tree. However, the police did not accept Jones's offer to help.
- Jones was seen patrolling the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone in June 2020.
What Happened with the Police?
Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes has called Jones a "deeply misguided individual."
In October 2011, Jones was arrested because police were looking into an alleged assault. This happened after he used pepper spray to break up a fight. He stayed in jail for about seven hours before paying $3,800 to be released. No charges were filed against him, and the case was closed later that month.
Jones appeared in court on October 13, 2011. He wore a black and gray striped shirt over his supersuit. A court officer asked Jones to take off his mask, and he did. He put the mask back on after the hearing. Jones then spoke with reporters and took off his mask again to show his identity as Ben Fodor. Fodor said that he would keep patrolling the city:
I will continue to patrol with my team, probably tonight [October 13, 2011]. In addition to being Phoenix Jones, I am also Ben Fodor, father and brother. I am just like everybody else. The only difference is that I try to stop crime in my neighborhood and everywhere else. I think I have to look toward the future and see what I can do to help the city.
His Time as a Mixed Martial Artist
| Ben Fodor | |
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Fodor at an MMA event, fighting as "Fear the Flattop"
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| Born | May 25, 1988 |
| Other names | Flattop, Vigilante |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) |
| Weight | 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb) |
| Division | Welterweight |
| Reach | 71 in (180 cm) |
| Fighting out of | Seattle, Washington, United States |
| Team | AMC Kickboxing |
| Years active | 2006–present (MMA) |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 11 |
| Wins | 7 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| By submission | 4 |
| By decision | 2 |
| Losses | 3 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Draws | 1 |
Amateur Fights
Ben Fodor started his amateur mixed martial arts (MMA) career in December 2006. Over the next four years, he had a record of 15 wins and 2 losses as an amateur fighter.
Professional Fights
Fodor made his professional MMA debut in November 2013. He fought for the Cage Warrior Combat group in his home state of Washington. Fodor is the younger foster brother of Caros Fodor, who is a veteran fighter in Strikeforce and UFC.
On March 11, 2015, it was announced that Fodor had signed a special contract with World Series of Fighting. Fodor made his debut at WSOF 20 on April 10, 2015. He wanted to be known by his superhero name, "Phoenix Jones," in the ring. He faced Emmanuel Walo and lost the fight by a decision from all the judges. This was his first loss in his professional career. His record then became 5 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss. On September 18, 2015, he bounced back with a rare headscissors submission win over Roberto Yong at World Series of Fighting 23: Gaethje vs. Palomino II.
Images for kids
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Jones without his mask in 2013
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Fodor at an MMA event, fighting as "Fear the Flattop"
See also
In Spanish: Phoenix Jones para niños
