Jon Jones’ USADA suspension was reduced due to an interesting clause in their policy and that information has surfaced online. It’s been well documented that the former UFC light heavyweight champion was initially facing a 48-month suspension.
Jones failed an in-competition drug test for Turinabol at UFC 214 after he beat Daniel Cormier by third-round TKO. This fight took place in the main event in July of 2017 in Anaheim, California. Back in February, it was revealed that the CSAC revoked Jones’ MMA license and fined him $205,000.
‘Snitching’ Clause
It was noted in the statement that three months of that reduction were due to a small reduction in Jones’ degree of fault. The belief from the arbitrator was due to him not deliberately intending to cheat.
The interesting part is the fact that thirty months reduction were due to the “snitching” clause that is in the UFC’s anti-doping program.
So what does this mean? Well, it turns out that Jones has been telling USADA information that could lead to them giving out suspensions to fighters or criminal investigations into individuals. As a result of doing this, it would likely imply Jones’ information is significant for USADA and thus, he received a greater reduction.
In the policy, it specifically states the clause will give a reduction when the information results in USADA discovering or bringing forward a violation. In more simple terms, if Jones tells them that he has heard a rumor that someone is doing something wrong that wouldn’t cut it.
Instead, he needs detailed information about the use or supply of drugs. It’s not all over as Jones is required to continue to provide this information and if he doesn’t then his suspension will be reinstated.
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones took a trip to Sin City alongside his manager to have a meeting with UFC officials.
What’s interesting is that this news is not a report but rather, his manager, Malki Kawa, made it known to the world in a post on his official Instagram account with the caption of the photo that read, “2 GOATS, 1 mission, all business.”
This has led to a lot of speculation as to what this meeting was about considering two factors. One, there has been some who have thought that Jones would somehow make his return at UFC 230 in the main event. The second factor is due to him being suspended right now.
Jones failed an in-competition drug test for Turinabol at UFC 214 after he beat Daniel Cormier by third-round TKO. This fight took place in the main event in July of 2017 in Anaheim, California. Later on, he was stripped of the UFC light heavyweight title and also removed from the official UFC rankings.
Moving along to February, it was revealed that the CSAC revoked Jones’ MMA license and fined him $205,000. Many considered that this hearing that would determine Jones’ fate as a result of this drug test. Now, he’s waiting to hear the decision made by USADA. You can see the post here:
So here’s the reality of the situation. We don’t know yet exactly what this meeting was about. It could be a friendly visit and the Jones camp just playing up speculation. However, it’s a bit odd for them to go there in person with the former UFC champion currently suspended.
The UFC 230 pay-per-view event is set to take place on Saturday, November 3, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, New York City with the main card airing on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. ET while the preliminary card will air on FOX Sports 1 at 8 p.m. ET and the promotion’s streaming service, UFC Fight Pass.
The promotion will be announcing more bouts in the coming weeks but for now, here’s the updated card:
Nate Diaz vs. Dustin Poirier David Branch vs. Ronaldo Souza Luke Rockhold vs. Chris Weidman Israel Adesanya vs. Derek Brunson Sultan Aliev vs. Lyman Good Matt Frevola vs. Lando Vannata Brian Kelleher vs. Domingo Pilarte Karl Roberson vs. Jack Marshman Shane Burgos vs. Kurt Holobaugh Julio Arce vs. Sheymon Moraes Jason Knight vs. Jordan Rinaldi
The UFC was sold for a record-setting $4.2 billion to WME-IMG last year, and the new owners are understandably trying relieve the debt of the massive purchase to make a profit on the blockbuster deal. However, they may have a tough time doing so in 2017 due to the fact that the promotion is currently lacking
The UFC was sold for a record-setting $4.2 billion to WME-IMG last year, and the new owners are understandably trying relieve the debt of the massive purchase to make a profit on the blockbuster deal.
However, they may have a tough time doing so in 2017 due to the fact that the promotion is currently lacking legitimate stars to headline pay-per-view (PPV) shows in the immediate months. Given the fact that PPV has and likely always will be the UFC’s main platform, WME-IMG could have a serious issue on its hands.
For instance, let’s take a look at the status of just a few of the UFC’s biggest PPV draws from the last few years: Conor McGregor, Ronda Rousey, Brock Lesnar, Georges St-Pierre, and Anderson Silva.
McGregor, the reigning UFC lightweight champion, is in a league of his own in terms of PPV stars, as he’s headlined four of the top five best-selling events of all-time: UFC 194, UFC 196, UFC 202 and UFC 205, and incredibly enough all within a calendar year.
The brash and outspoken Irishman may end up spending the majority of 2017 on the sidelines, however, as he awaits the birth of his first child with longtime girlfriend Dee Devlin.
Rousey’s fighting future is even more uncertain than McGregor’s, as the former UFC women’s bantamweight champion spent most of 2016 inactive after suffering a brutal knockout loss to Holly Holm in Nov. 2015. She returned at last week’s (Dec. 30, 2016) UFC 207, an event that ranks. No. 6 all-time in terms of pay-per-view buys according to Tapology, only to get stopped in 48 seconds. Not only would it be unsurprising to see Rousey not fight in 2017, but it also wouldn’t be too surprising to see the “Rowdy” one never grace the Octagon again.
Lesnar, a former UFC heavyweight champion, is also a legitimate draw, as he’s headlined four cards that have brought in over one million buys. “The Beast” made his return this past summer in the co-main event of UFC 200, an event that brought in over one million buys as well, but he’s now suspended due to multiple failed drug tests. While his suspension will be up in July, he too may never fight again.
St-Pierre, the former welterweight champion, hasn’t competed since 2013, although he was in negotiations to return late last year. The negotiations took a turn south, however, and his return is now up in the air as well.
Silva, on the other hand, will likely fight again, although he is a mere shell of the star he once was. The former longtime middleweight champion hasn’t won a fight since 2012 and at age 41, his best days are clearly behind him. Yet while that’s certainly the general consensus among a rapidly evolving MMA fanbase where many fans may not remember “The Spider’s” dominant days, it also could be noted that he impressively rocked both the light heavyweight and middleweight champions in his only two fights of 2016 only to lose to a decision.
Mandatory Credit: Joshua Dahl-USA TODAY Sports
Now that I’ve rambled on about the biggest draws in the UFC, you may be asking yourself what the only major one who wasn’t named – former light heavyweight champ Jon Jones – has to do with the UFC’s current lack of stars. Well, aside from McGregor, Jones may be the only other (potential) star and pay-per-view (PPV) draw left on the UFC roster that is certain to fight again. And to be fair, Jones is certainly not the star “Notorious” is.
“Bones,” the longtime pound-for-pound king, is currently serving out a yearlong suspension due to a failed drug test surrounding his scheduled UFC 200 rematch with current champion Daniel Cormier.
Jones’ two best selling pay-per-views (PPV) are UFC 182: Jones vs. Cormier, which brought in 800,000 buys, and UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans, which brought in 700,000 buys. He also headlined UFC 135 and UFC 159, two cards that sold north of 500,000 pay-per-views. While the ex-champion may not be a McGregor or Rousey type of star, his events have typically brought in solid numbers and certainly respectable numbers in today’s UFC landscape.
Because of this, I’d have to assume that the UFC is eagerly awaiting his return, which will hopefully take place in July when his suspension is up. He’ll of course have to face the increased watch of USADA and the legal authorities of Bernalillo County, Ne Mexico, where he was jailed on a probation violation for receiving some highly questionable traffic citations last year.
To count on him to return to the Octagon without issue is an order perhaps even taller than the six-foot-four Jones, who was once the fastest-rising name in MMA before transcendent stars McGregor and Rousey came along. Not only has “Bones” typically sold well, but there will be a few intriguing match-ups awaiting him in the light heavyweight division, which is another reason that his return is vital.
The 205-pound class was once the UFC’s marquee division, but it has since become scarce and stagnant. Cormier hasn’t defended the title since October 2015 and aside from him and top contenders Anthony Johnson and Alexander Gustafsson, there simply aren’t too many big names in the division. However, rematches between Jones and Cormier or Jones and Gustafsson, as well as a possible showdown between “Bones” and “Rumble” would likely draw interest.
To wrap things up, it’s clear that the UFC is in need of big names, and although Jones has had a troubled past, he represents just that: a well-known name who happens to be arguably the best fighter of all-time. With that being said, his return is needed by the UFC now more than it ever has been. Jones has the ability to add another star to the UFC’s roster and the ability to revive a weight class that appears to be on its last legs.
Also, fight fans seem to love a comeback story.
Here’s to hoping that Jones not only returns to fighting, but that he returns to consistency and to the straight and narrow not only for the UFC, but for fight fans as well. Is that impossible at this point? Time will tell, but somehow “Bones” always seems to get one more “second chance.” His new employer is probably hoping he finally capitalizes on one right when the promotion needs stars.
Former UFC light heavyweight champion and former pound-for-pound king Jon “Bones” Jones will likely return to action this upcoming July after serving out a year long suspension due to a failed drug test surrounding his scheduled UFC 200 (July 9, 2016) rematch with Daniel Cormier, which he was pulled from just days prior to the
Former UFC light heavyweight champion and former pound-for-pound king Jon “Bones” Jones will likely return to action this upcoming July after serving out a year long suspension due to a failed drug test surrounding his scheduled UFC 200 (July 9, 2016) rematch with Daniel Cormier, which he was pulled from just days prior to the event.
When Jones does indeed make his return, he’ll likely receive an immediate title shot and if he finds his way back to the top of the 205-pound class, few fights will remain him. Jones has come dangerously close to cleaning out light heavyweight and a potential jump to heavyweight has been discussed because of that.
In fact, “Bones” recently told Joe Rogan that he still wants to challenge for the heavyweight strap:
“I do want to challenge for the heavyweight title, but I’m waiting for the perfect opponent,” Jones said. “I’ve beaten up a lot of heavyweights, man. Only people who train at (Jackson-Wink MMA) have seen that. I’ve picked up a lot of heavyweights. I’ve slammed a lot of heavyweights.”
“I know that I’m capable. I just want to make sure I compete against the right stylistic matchup for me when I go to heavyweight and challenge for that title.”
Jones has always been a large 205 pounder, but he said that he wouldn’t bulk up too much to compete at heavyweight:
“(At heavyweight) I’ll fight right around 230. I’ll try to eat a lot and make sure my endurance and speed is where it needs to be.”
Would you like to see “Bones” test his hand at heavyweight at some point next year?
Former UFC light heavyweight champion and former pound-for-pound king Jon “Bones” Jones was recently suspended one year by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) after testing positive for multiple banned substances surrounding his scheduled UFC 200 (July 9, 2016) rematch with reigning titleholder Daniel Cormier. Jones was still awaiting his punishment from the Nevada State
Former UFC light heavyweight champion and former pound-for-pound king Jon “Bones” Jones was recently suspended one year by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) after testing positive for multiple banned substances surrounding his scheduled UFC 200 (July 9, 2016) rematch with reigning titleholder Daniel Cormier.
Jones was still awaiting his punishment from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), but that wait is now over. According to a report from MMAFighting.com, the NSAC has followed USADA’s lead and handed “Bones” a one year suspension retroactive to July 6, 2016, the date that his test results came back.
Jones tested positive for an anti-estrogenic agent as well as an aromatase inhibitor, which led the UFC to pull him from UFC 200 just days prior. When he met with USADA, “Bones” blamed the failed test on a contaminated sex pill, which USADA confirmed was indeed tainted.
The former champion will be eligible to compete again this coming July.
Former UFC light heavyweight champion and former pound-for-pound Jon “Bones” Jones is suspended until July 2017 after failing a USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) administered drug test surrounding his scheduled UFC 200 (July 9, 2016) rematch with Daniel Cormier. Jones tested positive for multiple estrogen blockers that were found in a tainted sexual enhancement pill.
Former UFC light heavyweight champion and former pound-for-pound Jon “Bones” Jones is suspended until July 2017 after failing a USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) administered drug test surrounding his scheduled UFC 200 (July 9, 2016) rematch with Daniel Cormier. Jones tested positive for multiple estrogen blockers that were found in a tainted sexual enhancement pill.
While he cannot compete in a mixed martial arts contest at the moment, Jones will be grappling MMA legend Dan Henderson at Submission Underground 2 this weekend.
He’s also apparently gotten back to powerlifting, as he recently posted a video of himself deadlifting a whopping 600 pounds, while also making a joke about his drug test:
A video posted by Jon Bones Jones (@jonnybones) on
After being stripped of his title due to legal issues in 2015, “Bones” turned to powerlifting as an outlet and he ended up getting very strong very quickly. His coach Greg Jackson, however, felt as if the lifting hindered his endurance in his return bout against Ovince Saint Preux at last April’s UFC 197.
What form of Jones do you expect to return next summer?
1 mission, all business.
