UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington has his thoughts on the possible earlier return of Jon Jones.
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is currently serving at least a two-year suspension for his failed drug test at UFC 214 a year ago. However, his team is expecting that “Bones” would somehow be able to return within 2018.
For both Chael Sonnen and UFC interim welterweight champion Colby Covington, this could be a problem. For one, they would be putting USADA’s integrity and legitimacy in question.
“I feel like if that does happen that he comes in before that two-year time frame, we would find out a lot about USADA,” Covington told Sonnen in a recent guest spot on the Beyond the Fight podcast. “I think they would lose a lot of credit.”
“If he ends up coming back before that two-year time frame, I would really have to question USADA’s legitimacy.”
As for Jones and his management team trying to find a way for an earlier return, Covington feels there is deeper motive which is unsurprisingly rooted to money.
“I think they’re trying to keep (Jones’) name in the headlines,” Covington said. “Obviously, that’s the name of the game is to keep your name hot. I think they’re using that more as leverage to keep his name out there at the possibility (of returning earlier).”
“You never know. His scumbag management team, Malki Kawa and those guys, they’re probably trying to pay off the UFC or USADA somehow to get him back earlier,” he added. “You never know the UFC’s side, they want to do business and make money so if he’s available, and USADA clears him, then they’re gonna want to do business and put him back out there to fight and make that company money.”
“They’ve got a $4 billion installment on that loan to pay back, so they’re gonna do whatever it takes to make money and pay back that loan.”
Jones has yet to undergo arbitration with USADA, which could give him a maximum of four years in the sidelines for this second violation in the UFC.