Recently, UFC President Dana White made a bold statement to the cast of The Ultimate Fighter 27, which is set to debut on FOX Sports 1 tonight. Speaking to the undefeated hopefuls, White was intent on declaring Daniel Cormier, and not Jon Jones, as the best light heavyweight in UFC history. “In my opinion, the […]
Jones has defeated Cormier twice, most recently having a third-round knockout victory at 2017’s UFC 214 overturned following a failed USADA test for anabolic steroid Turinabol for Jones. Still many fight fans see Jones as the rightful champion of the division, as he never technically lost his belt, but was instead stripped after a long and concerning string of outside-the-cage incidents.
During Jones’ absence, Cormier has been an otherwise dominant champion, however, dispatching every one else but the all-time great ‘Bones’. Cormier will be taking on heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic at UFC 226.
Do you agree with White’s assessment of the best light heavyweight champion in UFC history?
The Jon Jones saga continues its way down the rabbit hole. After failing a pre-fight USADA test for his UFC 214 title fight against Daniel Cormier, the newest twist is that Jones actually passed a blood test from USADA on the night of UFC 214. Mind you, that blood test didn’t test for Turinabol, an […]
The Jon Jones saga continues its way down the rabbit hole. After failing a pre-fight USADA test for his UFC 214 title fight against Daniel Cormier, the newest twist is that Jones actually passed a blood test from USADA on the night of UFC 214.
Mind you, that blood test didn’t test for Turinabol, an anabolic steroid and the substance Jones popped for. So, while him passing a blood test may look like a very positive development, it may be, but only in the sense that it casts an extreme shadow of doubt on the timing and sequence of his passed tests in comparison to his positive one. It does not exonerate him from taking Turinabol in any way at this time, which means Jones is far from out of the water with USADA.
Jones’ manager Malki Kawa was encouraged by Jones’ previous test results, however, and spoke on the matter on The MMA Hour last week.
“I’m encouraging everyone to go out there and take a look at the tests he passed and the test he failed. It’s a three-week window the month of the fight. Jon has passed seven unannounced tests, and the one he’s going to fail is the one that’s announced? It’s weird to me, there’s a lot of things here that don’t add up, and to the UFC, it doesn’t add up.
“The UFC knows. They look at his tests on the 6th and the 7th, and he passed both of those, there’s nothing in his system. So for him to start doing steroids, especially the steroid they’re saying he took, he would’ve had to have been doing that steroid for awhile for it to actually do anything. He just took it to take it? I mean, to me, there’s a lot of issues with this.”
There may have been a discrepancy or two, but that doesn’t erase the fact that if he is found to have wittingly used banned steroids, Jones shouldn’t and won’t get the benefit of the doubt due to his past indiscretions. He’s already been stripped of the belt before for a similar situation, and even tested positive for cocaine metabolites in the past.
At this point, many feel one single red flag is enough to assume the absolute worst even if Jones is owed full due process, and even though he is, it’s tough to not assume the worst from “Bones” even if it hasn’t been officially adjudicated yet.
Kawa is nobly defending his client and has done so since the story broke. But Jones and his team have always had some oddball excuses for his failed tests. One was that he took “dick pills” like Cialis that supposedly contained banned substances Clomiphene and Letrozol and lead to his forced withdrawal from his UFC 2– rematch with Cormier.
So to give Jones the benefit of the doubt would mean to ignore all his past blunders and your own intuition. Jones looked incredible in his knockout victory over Cormier, a man who had never been finished, at UFC 214. It’s sad to now understand perhaps some of the reasons behind that amazing performance. Some of it is Jones, no matter how you cut it. The man is an MMA savante and could easily win without taking steroids.
So don’t hold your breath on Jones and this convenient blood test changing the inevitable, at least not quite yet. It is definitely puzzling, yet if history has shown us anything, Jones could easily be stripped of his championship and suspended for two to four years.
Cherish those moments he blessed us with in the cage, indiscretions be damned. Because something tells me we may not be seeing them again for a long time.
With UFC 200 just over one week away now, the rivalry between UFC light-heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier and interim boss Jon Jones has begun picking up steam again. After their UFC 182 fight in January 2015, Jones took the decision win but soon lost the title to himself, getting stripped and temporarily exiled for a
With UFC 200 just over one week away now, the rivalry between UFC light-heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier and interim boss Jon Jones has begun picking up steam again. After their UFC 182 fight in January 2015, Jones took the decision win but soon lost the title to himself, getting stripped and temporarily exiled for a dramatic New Mexico hit-and-run scandal. Suddenly ‘Bones’ found himself on the fringes of the sport, while ‘DC’ captured the vacant strap in Jones’ absence.
Once Jones was reinstated, a UFC 197 rematch was set but fell apart when Cormier was injured. The ex-champion would instead defeat Ovince St-Preux for the interim title, thus leading to the UFC 200 main event of ‘DC’ vs. ‘Bones’ 2. We’ve seen a very different lead up to their second fight, with far less of a feud than the first time around, but that’s not to say they still aren’t very bitter towards each other. Finally, just one week out, their resentment boiled over during last night’s UFC 200 media call.
Ever since Jones’ less than stellar showing against ‘OSP’ at UC 197, Cormier has blasted Jones as a ‘bum,’ claiming his best years are behind him and they were likely fuelled by his addiction to Marijuana, among other things. When the two were faced with questions about the upcoming July 9 do-over, things got very heated indeed. AS transcribed by yours truly:
Cormier
“He’ll always be tough, but nothing’s free. The Jon Jones we saw at UFC 197 is the new Jon Jones. That’s who he is now, all the partying, you have to pay for that, and that’s who will show up on July 9. He spent too much time partying and burning the candle at both ends and now that’s who he is. He’s not the guy he was before. He may be only 28, but he’s been on this earth far longer with all the outlandish living and partying he’s done.”
Jones
“Where do you come up with this craziness? I beat you the first time, why was your candle out then?”
Cormier
“It’s the truth, you have been burning the candle at both ends for a long time, now it’s at the middle and you are burning out. Hey you beat me the first time, my candle wasn’t out, I’m 37 son, I’ve lived my life. I haven’t burnt the candle at both ends to become a middle aged man at just 28 years old. That’s you today, you’re the slow guy at UFC 197 who looked like garbage. GARBAGE!”
Jones
“I’m planning on just going out there and having a great fight, realise that the Ovince fight was the fight to finish someone. I haven’t got a finish in a while, but I’ve still dominated everyone I’ve fought, so I’m just excited to go out there and do it again.”
Cormier
“I feel a lot different than the first time around, obviously he did a great job in winning the fight, but there was a lot that happened before the fight. I let all that drama consume me, I wanted to fight him in the hotel, at the press conference, but now I know to get the job done on July 9 I have to be focused. I feel at ease, at peace, I’m so confident man. I felt like I was carrying some responsibility in the first fight, to make Jon pay for his crimes against society. I just couldn’t understand how he was willing to throw everything away. I’m an adult, I learn from my mistakes, Jon doesn’t. I’m gonna win for Daniel Cormier, my family and AKA.”
Jones
“That’s why you lost the first time? Because you were carrying the weight of the world? Because of my troubles after I fight? My DWI, is that what you are talking about? Oh that’s part of why you lost, OK, alright. You can’t handle the role of being a champion? OK. Your answer makes no sense. So now you’re fighting me out of love.”
Brock Lesnar (laughs)
“You’re gonna tell him you don’t love him? C’mon man.”
Jones
“This is my 18th fight in the UFC, I’ve had one bad fight out of 18, my career is not luck. Against Daniel Cormier I was doing the things I needed to do to win that fight. What did Ovince do? He didn’t bring the heat, he didn’t do anything. He didn’t force me to fight so I coasted. I’m really excited to show my levels, I think a bad fighter can make me not look good. I think that’s what happened.”
Cormier
“Finally, you say he wasn’t a good fighter so you fought bad. Great job Jon, the warrior’s code of respect Jon, great job buddy.”
Perhaps the biggest rivalry in modern mixed martial arts has been reignited, as Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones stand on the cusp of another meeting in the UFC octagon. Before their first five round war at UFC 182, where Jones was the champion and Cormier the challenger, the two light-heavyweight titans were embroiled in a
Perhaps the biggest rivalry in modern mixed martial arts has been reignited, as Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones stand on the cusp of another meeting in the UFC octagon. Before their first five round war at UFC 182, where Jones was the champion and Cormier the challenger, the two light-heavyweight titans were embroiled in a fierce feud. The madness came to a head when they fought on stage during a wild Las Vegas media day brawl, and was furthered during a hot mic outtake that saw Jones threaten to kill ‘DC’ when they fought.
That was over a year ago now, and the time since has shown a transformation in both men’s careers. ‘Bones’ was stripped of the belt as he dealt with legal issues following a hit-and-run incident in New Mexico, and Cormier won the vacant belt against Anthony Johnson, going on to defend it once against Alexander Gustafsson. The moment Jones was reinstated, it was once again on between the two enemies.
UFC 197 is the venue for the rematch, and MMA fans were treated to yet more crazy antics at the UFC Unstoppable press conference. An off-camera confrontation between Jones and Cormier showed the bad blood still runs deep between them. The official UFC 197 promo trailer has been released, and it’s everything you’d expect for a top level rivalry like ‘DC’ vs. ‘Bones.’
Check out the video courtesy of the UFC on Youtube:
Wow, now that’s how you keep fans interested in a fight! That said, the two rivals gave seen a much more subtle pre fight hype stage than their first fight, but that lead up to UFC 182 clearly took a massive toll on Cormier.
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That’s not to say that Jones and Cormier haven’t done their fair share of trolling towards each other though, as they’ve battled back and forth over social media for months now. That said, when you compare it to the vicious and bitter beef they had in late 2014/early 2015, it’s really nothing at all.
Check out Daniel Cormier’s recent interview on FOX:
Is it just me, or does it seem a lot more jovial this time around? Relive the craziness of their first feud right here, thanks for stopping by!
Is it an act, or is Jon Jones truly a scumbag? It’s a question that’s been asked may times in the past, but in typical Jon Jones form, there’s been a ton of controversial incidents since the last time we spoke about this. The former UFC light-heavyweight champion is truly the most dominant in the
It’s a question that’s been asked may times in the past, but in typical Jon Jones form, there’s been a ton of controversial incidents since the last time we spoke about this. The former UFC light-heavyweight champion is truly the most dominant in the division’s history, but has proved to be a frustrating and contrasting figure outside of the octagon. For all the natural gifts and abilities that ‘Bones’ displays in the arena of combat, there’s almost an equal amount of negative attention being shed on Jones on a daily basis.
So let’s first take a look at Jon Jones’ record in the UFC, it reads like a hit list of who’s who in the 205-pound division. Mostly former or future champions, but also the elite contenders in the light-heavyweight division, aside from Anthony Johnson. Here’s Jones’ 16-fight UFC record.
Jan 3, 2015 UFC 182: Jones vs. Daniel Cormier
Win Decision – Unanimous 55:00
Apr 26, 2014 UFC 172: Jones vs. Glover Teixeira
Win Decision – Unanimous
Sep 21, 2013UFC 165: Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson
Win Decision – Unanimous
Apr 27, 2013 UFC 159: Jones vs. Chael Sonnen
Win KO/TKO
Sep 22, 2012 UFC 152: Jones vs. Vitor Belfort
WinSubmission (Keylock)
Apr 21, 2012 UFC 145: Jones vs. Rashad Evans
Win Decision – Unanimous
Dec 10, 2011 UFC 140: Jones vs. Lyoto Machida
Win Submission (Guillotine Choke)
Sep 24, 2011 UFC 135: Jones vs. Quinton Jackson
Win Submission (rear naked choke)
Mar 19, 2011 UFC 128: Shogun Rua vs. Jones
Win KO/TKO
Feb 5, 2011 UFC 126: Silva vs. Belfort
Ryan Bader-Win Submission (Guillotine Choke)
Aug 1, 2010 UFC on Versus 2: Jones vs. Vladimir Matyushenko
WinKO/TKO
Mar 21, 2010 UFC on Versus 1: Brandon Vera vs. Jones
Win KO/TKO
Dec 5, 2009 The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale
Matt Hamill Loss DQ
Jul 11, 2009 UFC 100: Lesnar vs. Mir 2
Jake O’Brien Win Submission (Guillotine Choke)
Jan 31, 2009 UFC 94: St-Pierre vs. Penn 2
Stephan Bonnar Win Decision – Unanimous
Aug 9, 2008 UFC 87: Seek and Destroy
Andre Gusmao Win Decision – Unanimous
Clearly you can’t deny Jon Jones’ legacy in the UFC light-heavyweight division, but should he beat Daniel Cormier in the rematch at UFC 197, ‘Bones’ will likely once again lead the pound-for-pound pack without dispute, and also go down as possibly the greatest fighter ever, period.
But what of his antics outside the octagon, and run-ins with the law?
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Jon Jones’ legacy is by no means tarnished by his behaviours, but it would be foolish to think that a repeat offense such as his hit-and-run controversy in 2015 couldn’t end his MMA career for good. He was lucky not to get permanently exiled from the world of combat sports when he trashed his rental car and left a pregnant woman with a broken arm, but are his frequent and well publicized troubles just part and parcel of being a young superstar? Well yes, to an extent.
The thing with Jones is he is a massive heel, it’s how he sells fights, and this leads to a lot of debate about his true character. Whether these questions are ‘fair’ is one thing, but all you need to do is look back through history at young stars that burn out and fall off to realise why it’s important for Jones to stay on the straight and narrow. At the minimum, his health could be at risk if he goes back to his powder/leaf partaking ways.
So that brings us to the next part of the debate, Jones’ failed drug test for cocaine, and also his admitted Marijuana addiction that threatened to consume his very being. A young guy like ‘Bones’ with suh a hectic lifestyle is bound to come across temptation, it simply comes with the territory. The difference between Jones and pretty much everyone else his age? The fact he could get seriously hurt if he messes up inside the UFC octagon. Further to that, he could literally ruin every ounce of potential he was thrust in to this world with.
Of course the New Mexico hit-and-run wasn’t the first snafu that Jones got in to while driving a car, as he’d previously written off his first Bentley in a similar situation, allegedly with some ladies of the night in tow. But who are we kidding, how many of us didn’t make mistakes in our twenties? Let’s not pretend our sh*t doesn’t stink here.
But of course Jones is in the public eye, a place he put himself, and that role model persona he is trying to impart on kids is seriously smeared if he keeps going back to the life of a carefree scumbag.
So, to the final part of this Jones opinion piece, the impact of Jones’ heel role on his image outside of fighting.
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Is it fair to say Jones acts like an idiot on social media? Yes, but he’s promoting ticket sales. Could he get as much reach if he was just constantly the good guy? Probably not, but that’s by-the-by. The truth here is that as long as Jones doesn’t care what people think of him, then how he acts on social media and at press conferences etc. doesn’t really matter. But, and to quote the title of this article, is Jon Jones actually a scumbag, and the biggest in MMA history?
Well, if he is, that may not mater either. Yes, he could go through life pissing people off with his attitude, but as long as he’s on the straight and narrow, and off the weed and coke, then who gives a damn? If he can train, live healthy, and stay on the right side of the law, then what the heck is everybody whining about?
Of course there’s the other side of the argument, that ‘Bones’ is slowly falling in to the image he is portraying, and it’s actually playing a role in his trials and tribulations in ‘real’ life. Could he be suffering from the syndrome many method actors get, as in the character is beginning to take over?
In summary, and in my personal experience, a person’s true colors will always shine through. Will Jon Jones’ attitude or maybe just his portrayed character lead him once again astray? Let’s hope not, but one thing is for sure; one day it may lead Jones to the label of biggest scumbag in MMA, but even that isn’t such a bad thing when you consider he could be serving five years in prison right now. Let’s just hope those two ends don’t meet in the future.
Check out the full list of current UFC champions and how they came to conquer their divisions. Who is your favorite UFC champ right now? The current crop of UFC champions is an interesting scene. There’s been new marquee divisions emerge over the recent years, and also the heaviest and lightest divisions continue to struggle
Check out the full list of current UFC champions and how they came to conquer their divisions. Who is your favorite UFC champ right now?
The current crop of UFC champions is an interesting scene. There’s been new marquee divisions emerge over the recent years, and also the heaviest and lightest divisions continue to struggle in their own respects. We’ve seen a changing of the guard unlike ever before, as all but the flyweight title have changed hands in the last year. It’s crazy when you think about it, as it appears to be getting even harder to be what’s considered a ‘long reigning’ champion.
In honor of the UFC champions that are in place as of today (2/5/2016), we’ve compiled a list of current UFC title holders and how they won their belts. Enjoy.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk
UFC women’s strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk holds all the records at the lowest weight class right now. She is one of the most dominant fighters ever to cross over from the world of Muay Thai, is unbeaten at 11-0 in her mixed martial arts career, and arguably has the best striking in the sport today.
Facing Carla Esparza at UFC 185 in March 2015, a night where two titles changed hands, Joanna ‘Champion’ scored a brutal TKO over a bewildered Esparza.
Mighty Mouse
Demetrious Johnson is the dominant champion of the UFC flyweight division, but is highly unheralded in his pursuit. Currently riding a nine fight unbeaten streak, seven as champion, he’s rumoured to face Henry Cejudo next time out.
He is the only ever UFC flyweight champ, having won the belt after a tournament in 2012, defeating Joseph Benavidez by decision. As that’s 25 minutes of action though, we’ll show you the rematch, where he blasted ‘J-Bo’ with a stunning first round knockout:
Dominick Cruz
The original UFC bantamweight champion was forced to vacate his belt after years of career threatening injuries to his lower body, making his most recent win so much more special. A brief comeback against Takeya Mizugaki in 2014 showed ‘The Dominator’ was still very motivated, and it sparked a rivalry with the champ of the time, TJ Dillashaw.
The rivalry was settled at UFC Fight Night 81, where Cruz edged his rival on the judge’s scorecards with his incredible footwork.
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