The UFC light heavyweight kingpin was busted for cocaine metabolic in an out-of-competition drug test in December, a month before his title defense against Daniel Cormier at UFC 182, and Silva said the young champion will learn from his mistake.
“No way,” Silva told Terra when asked if this incident will tarnish Jones’ career. “I think that’s already in the past, it’s part of the past. He will be fighting again pretty soon. The important is that he learned the lesson.
“Everybody makes mistakes, we have to stop criticizing him and start to support him so he can come back and become a better person than he already is. This doesn’t match with who he is, a great person with millions of fans, just like me.”
Silva, who owns the record of most title defenses in UFC history, believes that Jones in on his way to becoming the best fighter of all time, and the failed drug test will teach him a few things about being a professional athlete.
“He will overcome that and come back,” Silva said. “He’s too young, has too much to learn. It happens, so he can understand how important he is in this sport. It’s going to be good for him to see the responsibility of being an athlete.
“We have a good relationship, I have him as a young brother,” he continued. “Our relationship is great, I’m a fan and a close friend. I believe he will be the best of all time.”
The UFC light heavyweight kingpin was busted for cocaine metabolic in an out-of-competition drug test in December, a month before his title defense against Daniel Cormier at UFC 182, and Silva said the young champion will learn from his mistake.
“No way,” Silva told Terra when asked if this incident will tarnish Jones’ career. “I think that’s already in the past, it’s part of the past. He will be fighting again pretty soon. The important is that he learned the lesson.
“Everybody makes mistakes, we have to stop criticizing him and start to support him so he can come back and become a better person than he already is. This doesn’t match with who he is, a great person with millions of fans, just like me.”
Silva, who owns the record of most title defenses in UFC history, believes that Jones in on his way to becoming the best fighter of all time, and the failed drug test will teach him a few things about being a professional athlete.
“He will overcome that and come back,” Silva said. “He’s too young, has too much to learn. It happens, so he can understand how important he is in this sport. It’s going to be good for him to see the responsibility of being an athlete.
“We have a good relationship, I have him as a young brother,” he continued. “Our relationship is great, I’m a fan and a close friend. I believe he will be the best of all time.”
