Morning Report: Dana White clarifies Jon Jones’ brief rehab stint following failed drug test

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.

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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.

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MEDIA STEW

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UFC 183 embedded episode 2.

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Anderson Silva’s Spider Life episode 6.

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Who is Nick Diaz?

Star-divide

Anderson Silva’s open workout and media scrum.

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Joe Lauzon’s UFC 183 vlog.

Star-divide

TTTHS.

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Long watches.

UFC 183: Silva vs. Diaz – Care/Don’t Care

‘You’re Welcome’ with Chael Sonnon – Eddie Bravo

Joe “Daddy” Stevenson – The Comeback

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TWEETS

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Congrats.

Bout time #worldchampion @youjitsu promotes #ufc legend @cripplerufc to #purplebelt #victorymma #adconnect http://t.co/rcSjIMIj2f

Chris Leben (@cripplerufc) January 28, 2015

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Outstanding.

Got some cold cuts with ickyey woods #superbowlXLIX http://t.co/tOdphWpPz6

Demetrious Johnson (@MightyMouseUFC) January 28, 2015

Got some cold cuts with Ickey Woods #superbowlXLIX #sbmediaday

A photo posted by Demetrious Johnson (@mightymouse125) on Jan 28, 2015 at 7:39am PST

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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

Star-divide

FANPOST OF THE DAY

Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via jpwolfe.

Much to Lose, Little to Gain

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.

Check out the rest of the post here.

Star-divide

Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.

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.

Star-divide

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.

Star-divide

MEDIA STEW

Star-divide

UFC 183 embedded episode 2.

Star-divide

Anderson Silva’s Spider Life episode 6.

Star-divide

Who is Nick Diaz?

Star-divide

Anderson Silva’s open workout and media scrum.

Star-divide

Joe Lauzon’s UFC 183 vlog.

Star-divide

TTTHS.

Star-divide

Long watches.

UFC 183: Silva vs. Diaz – Care/Don’t Care

‘You’re Welcome’ with Chael Sonnon – Eddie Bravo

Joe “Daddy” Stevenson – The Comeback

Star-divide

TWEETS

Star-divide

Crisis averted.

Star-divide

Yep.

Star-divide

Soon.

Star-divide

OK.

Star-divide

Get well soon.

Star-divide

Interesting.

Star-divide

Congrats.

Star-divide

Outstanding.

Got some cold cuts with Ickey Woods #superbowlXLIX #sbmediaday

A photo posted by Demetrious Johnson (@mightymouse125) on


Star-divide

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

Star-divide

FANPOST OF THE DAY

Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via jpwolfe.

Much to Lose, Little to Gain

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.

Check out the rest of the post here.

Star-divide

Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.