News of UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones‘ brief stint in rehab raised more than a few eyebrows.
Jones tested positive for cocaine metabolites in a Dec. 4 random drug test, 30 days before his title clash with Daniel Cormier at UFC 182 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Making an appearance on The Jim Rome Show Wednesday, UFC president Dana White went to bat for the champion’s efforts to move on.
“Everybody was talking about, ‘Oh, he really didn’t go to rehab.’ He went for a 24-hour evaluation into rehab,” said White. “They evaluated him for 24 hours. When the 24 hours was up they said, ‘You are not an addict.’ OK? But my thing was if you’re doing that four weeks before the biggest fight of your life there’s some type of problem there. There’s something wrong.”
On Jan. 17 Jones was fined $25,000 by the UFC for violating the organization’s Athlete Code of Conduct policy. As of yet, the promotion hasn’t specified plans for further punitive actions, such as suspension.
“He’s doing out-patient counseling now,” said White. “He’s talking to counselors. I just want to make sure … this kid has so much talent. It’s always the guys with tons of talent that you go, ‘Why is this guy doing this?’ I want to try to help the guy.
“They said he didn’t need to stay there. If they would have determined that he needed to stay he would have stayed.”
Asked if he ‘trusted’ Jones moving forward, White broke out a pair of his favorite phrases.
“It is what it is,” said White. “I think the kid is growing up and maturing. He is as a fighter, for sure. We’ll see what happens.”
According to White, Jones is expected to make his next title defense to No. 1 contender Anthony Johnson in May.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
‘I did it to myself.’ Dana White says he has no one but himself to blame for having to deal with Nick Diaz’s fight week antics.
Diaz is going to Diaz. Chuck Mindenhall explains why you should just embrace the chaos of Nick Diaz. ‘It wouldn’t be a Diaz fight if there wasn’t a lot of strangeness riding sidecar up to the event.’
Chat Wrap. Luke Thomas previews Nick Diaz vs. Anderson Silva, discusses UFC on FOX 14 results and more in this week’s live chat.
‘It’s unbelievable.’ Dana White says Anthony Johnson ‘beating Alexander Gustafsson the way he did makes no sense whatsoever.’
‘Boom.’ Anderson Silva laughs off rumors he was knocked out in training.
MEDIA STEW
UFC 183 embedded episode 2.
Anderson Silva’s Spider Life episode 6.
Who is Nick Diaz?
Anderson Silva’s open workout and media scrum.
Joe Lauzon’s UFC 183 vlog.
TTTHS.
Long watches.
UFC 183: Silva vs. Diaz – Care/Don’t Care
…
‘You’re Welcome’ with Chael Sonnon – Eddie Bravo
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Joe “Daddy” Stevenson – The Comeback
TWEETS
Crisis averted.
#WhereIsNickDiaz #UFC183 #UFC pic.twitter.com/CFYjXxKRnJ
— Dana White (@danawhite) January 28, 2015
All bullshit aside @ufc I will take this fight, 185 no problem I’ll drive straight to weigh inns in the RV Say when?
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) January 28, 2015
The 209 is on the 702!!! #nickdiaz @ufc #UFC183 pic.twitter.com/8p5xd4XEeR
— Dana White (@danawhite) January 29, 2015
Diaz in the House Baby…..weight looks good and he’s ready #ufc183 @nickdiaz209 pic.twitter.com/7f0J6yevKd
— Burt Watson (@BurtWatson4real) January 29, 2015
Yep.
It’s official like a referee’s whistle just signed the bout agreement today,this dude is n trouble haha http://t.co/ZVpesS7oac
— Quinton Jackson (@Rampage4real) January 29, 2015
Soon.
One month from today my @ufc record of 9-0 will change! So happy @AmericanEthanol will be… http://t.co/1SbQgebjfS pic.twitter.com/qqANzS9SLa
— Alpha Cat Zingano (@CatZingano) January 28, 2015
OK.
Just to clarify I am still signing things for fans just not via the mail, true fans will understand! #DontJundgeWhenUDontKnow
— Miesha Tate (@MieshaTate) January 28, 2015
Get well soon.
Mma is a rough sport I sustained a broken collar bone Monday during mma training. Surgery was a success praying for a fast recovery.
— Diego Sanchez UFC (@DiegoSanchezUFC) January 28, 2015
Interesting.
I hear shoguns manager said shogun is interested in a fight with me at a catch weight of 195lbs. After my fight coming up, I’m in!!!
— michael (@bisping) January 28, 2015
Congrats.
Bout time #worldchampion @youjitsu promotes #ufc legend @cripplerufc to #purplebelt #victorymma #adconnect http://t.co/rcSjIMIj2f
— Chris Leben (@cripplerufc) January 28, 2015
Outstanding.
Got some cold cuts with ickyey woods #superbowlXLIX http://t.co/tOdphWpPz6
— Demetrious Johnson (@MightyMouseUFC) January 28, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Jan. 28 2015)
Patrick Cummins vs. Ovince St. Preux at UFC on FOX 15
Pawel Pawlak vs. Sheldon Westcott at UFC Fight Night: Cro Cop vs. Gonzaga
Krzysztof Jotko vs. Garreth McLellan at UFC Fight Night: Cro Cop vs. Gonzaga
Marcin Bandel vs. Jason Saggo at UFC Fight Night: Cro Cop vs. Gonzaga
Germaine de Randamie vs. Larissa Pacheco at UFC 185
Adriano Moraes vs. Asuka Mikami at ONE FC 25: Age of Champions
Ben Askren vs. Luis Santos at ONE FC 26: Valor of Champions
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via jpwolfe.
As we approach the main event of UFC 183, which marks the awaited return of two of MMA’s biggest stars, it is difficult to imagine the loser of Saturday night’s contest maintaining relevance in the sport. Both Nick Diaz and Anderson Silva are coming off back to back losses. Surely neither fighter will be cut after the fight, both put far too many asses in seats for that. But a consecutive 0-3 in a league where that record usually grants you your walking papers can ensure us that we’ll be witnessing the meaningful end of one, if not two, of the few remaining old school legends of the sport.
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Check out the rest of the post here.
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