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Quote: Jon Jones Is ‘Scared To Eat Out’ Because Of Tainted USADA Test

So many people are supposedly out to get him, Jon Jones is scared to eat out at restaurants. Jones recently received a 15-moth USADA suspension. He was suspended for failing a drug test prior to his UFC 214 knockout over Daniel Cormier. The banned substance in question was anabolic steroid Turinabol. But the troubled former champion maintained […]

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So many people are supposedly out to get him, Jon Jones is scared to eat out at restaurants.

Jones recently received a 15-moth USADA suspension. He was suspended for failing a drug test prior to his UFC 214 knockout over Daniel Cormier. The banned substance in question was anabolic steroid Turinabol.

But the troubled former champion maintained his innocence throughout. The situation was somehow floating before USADA for over a year. The UFC’s anti-doping partner finally made the call and caused widespread controversy in MMA.

Jones and his team still claim someone tainted his supplements or even food. Jones is apparently so worried that he won’t even eat out in public.

Public Out To Get ‘Bones?’

That’s the case according to Jones’ longtime coach Mike Winkeljohn.

The JacksonWink head coach recently told Submission Radio (via MMA Mania) that his troubled star is afraid to eat out because of fear someone might contaminate his food:

“Well, I think [USADA] should have made a deal a long time ago. There’s no doubt something got in there somehow, but it’s scary now. Jon’s even scared to eat out, he’s scared to be anywhere. He’s like, gosh, what if that waiter doesn’t like me, the bus boy doesn’t like me? You know? Who knows what’s going to happen out there. And it is kind of scary that way if you think about it.”

Many wondered why USADA took so long to hand Jones his punishment. Jones received a lengthy reduction of his possible four-year suspension for informing USADA about other fighters using ******** and other PEDs. At one point he had only been tested once by USADA in 2018. Controversy swirls.

Either way, Jones swears he never took Turinabol. His team hasn’t said what supplement was tainted, just that he is innocent. He’s eligible to return on October 28 of this year. Speculation is running wild that he’ll finally rematch Alexander Gustafsson.

Jones may be off the hook for now in terms of legal suspensions, but one more mess-up could see him banned forever.

The criticism of his response to the issue was that he never owned his mistakes and always claimed someone else would out to get him. It seems that hasn’t changed much based on Winkeljohn’s words. Will they be proven true in Jones’ umpteenth comeback?

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Conor McGregor Inspired Tom Hardy In New ‘Venom’ Role

Add movie inspiration to the long list of Conor McGregor’s many hats. Megastar actor Tom Hardy recently revealed that ‘The Notorious’ served as an inspiration for his character in the upcoming comic movie ‘Venom.’ Hardy told RTÉ Entertainment that McGregor served as his inspiration mainly because he “wants to have a scrap with everybody.” That […]

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Add movie inspiration to the long list of Conor McGregor’s many hats. Megastar actor Tom Hardy recently revealed that ‘The Notorious’ served as an inspiration for his character in the upcoming comic movie ‘Venom.’

Hardy told RTÉ Entertainment that McGregor served as his inspiration mainly because he “wants to have a scrap with everybody.” That could be true from a certain perspective. Speaking with RTÉ in an interview with at the recent ‘Venom’ press day, Hardy as went as far as to describe McGregor as a “key note” inspiration for his Eddie Brock role.

“Venom” often battled with archnemesis Spider-man in the comics. Spider-man will not appear in Hardy’s new film, however, due to licensing issues. In the film, Hardy plays disgraced reporter Brock, who comes into contact with an alien symbiote. Brock bonds with the symbiote to become ‘Venom,’ a superpowered anti-hero.

McGregor’s Influence

The topic of McGregor either being offended or flattered by the comparison came up. McGregor obviously had his own problem with outside-the-cage violence earlier this year. He just recently got past it by accepting a plea deal.

As one of the richest fighters of all-time, not much bothers McGregor. Hardy believed he wouldn’t be as a result. He then clarified that it wasn’t Venom whom McGregor inspired but more Brock himself:

“I don’t think he’d be bothered, really,” Hardy replied. “Conor doesn’t strike me as the type of person who might be that bothered!

“It was not Venom: he was not based on him. There were more elements of Eddie Brock which needed to be pinned on somebody who’s incredibly handy physically. And, obviously, Conor is incredibly handy physically.

“There was an aspect the studio wanted somebody who could fight, which they always do in these sort of hero movies. They want somebody who can have a scrap. Conor obviously wants to have a scrap with everybody, so that’s useful.”

A Different Portrayal

The Irish UFC star wasn’t the only inspiration for the role, however. McGregor was more of an “interior” inspiration that an outward portrayal, he said. Hardy also said you might notice a bit of Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in there too:

“Then there were bits of Harrison Ford as well from Indiana Jones and other elements within.

“He [McGregor] was definitely a key note but I don’t know if you’d recognise him in the portrayal. It was more of an interior choice, if that makes sense.”

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Conor McGregor’s Promotion Company Posts Six-Figure Loss

Conor McGregor is headed for perhaps the biggest MMA payday of all-time when he faces Khabib Nurmagomedov in the main event of October 6’s UFC 229. But McGregor’s promotion company is a different story altogether. McGregor’s promotion company, McGregor Sports and Entertainment Ltd., reportedly posted accumulated losses of $416,282 at the end of December 2017 according […]

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Conor McGregor is headed for perhaps the biggest MMA payday of all-time when he faces Khabib Nurmagomedov in the main event of October 6’s UFC 229. But McGregor’s promotion company is a different story altogether.

McGregor’s promotion company, McGregor Sports and Entertainment Ltd., reportedly posted accumulated losses of $416,282 at the end of December 2017 according to Business Insider. McGregor Sports and Entertainment Lt. lists its main area of business as “other sporting activities.” McGregor has used the company as a means to protect his own personal name and brand.

For example, the company runs the website themaclife.com, which focuses on McGregor’s mixed martial arts career and other ventures. The company also sells the MacTalk App on iTunes. McGregor obviously made out like a bandit for his boxing match against Floyd Mayweather in 2017, earning a reported $85 million. He’s unlikely to feel the effects of a $416,282 loss by the company as a result.

But despite his success in 2017, McGregor Sports and Entertainment Ltd. floundered. It had experienced a successful 12-month trading period in earnings reported before the 2017 slide. But the company’s cash reserves decreased to 381,654 in 2017. McGregor is the main shareholder in the company.

Other Interests

McGregor shouldn’t be affected, again, as his other business interests are taking off in a big way.

He recently launched his Proper Twelve Irish Whiskey brand. The liquor is selling so well that some stores have put a two-bottle purchase limit on it. McGregor will obviously return to face Khabib in qhat is being billed as the biggest mixed martial arts (MMA) bout of all-time. Proper Twelve is an official sponsor of the fight, greatly furthering McGregor’s earning potential as a result.

McGregor has even more outside-the-cage business avenues. He plans to start a clothing line called “August McGregor” with tailor David Heil, the founder of David August. The company plans to not only release tailored suits but also jeans and more casual fair. McGregor discussed the clothing venture:

“They’ll be in retail stores, and we’ll build an online shopping site to rival Net-A-Porter, who makes $66 million profit a year. I love fashion and I get to design clothes. It’s like fighting; it’s all about the small details.”

The Irish megastar is also a “social media powerhouse” with millions of followers on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. His fanbase makes him worth tens of millions to his sponsors.

He is currently sponsored by fast-food giant Burger King, headphone company Beats by Dre, and energy drink producer Monster Energy, among others.

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Manager Shoots Down Jon Jones Return At UFC 230

The stage seems to be set for one of MMA’s most anticipated rematches. But all early indications point to a Jon Jones return at November 3’s UFC 230 not happening. Last week Jones was cleared to return to action as early as October 28, 2018, by USADA. His PED-related suspension was greatly discounted for snitching […]

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The stage seems to be set for one of MMA’s most anticipated rematches. But all early indications point to a Jon Jones return at November 3’s UFC 230 not happening.

Last week Jones was cleared to return to action as early as October 28, 2018, by USADA. His PED-related suspension was greatly discounted for snitching on other fighters. The return was a shocking reveal for many fighters in the sport of MMA.

Jones has yet another life in the UFC. The timing of his 15-month suspension with USADA seemed all too curious as well. It gave him just a few days of eligibility before the lucrative UFC 230 pay-per-view from his home state of New York in November. Most predicted he would rematch longtime rival Alexander Gustafsson on the card.

Gustafsson continues to lobby for the bout, but others aren’t so sure. UFC President Dana White claimed Jones would return in early 2019 and now his longtime manager Malki Kawa insists Jones won’t return at UFC 230. Kawa appeared on today’s edition of “Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show” (via ESPN’s Greg Rosenstein) to shoot down the possibility of Jones fighting at UFC 230 for the time being:

“Malki Kawa, the manager of former UFC champion Jon Jones, told ESPN’s Ariel Helwani his client likely would not be fighting at UFC 230 in New York in November. The event, taking place at Madison Square Garden, still has yet to announce a main event.”

“Gus” Won’t Give Up

Gustafsson was also on Helwani’s show today.

He agreed that the booking was a no-brainer. It’s also the only fight that makes sense for him in his opinion. The UFC has not yet reached out to him in an effort to book it, however:

UFC 230 is currently without a main event as of this writing. Nate Diaz will make his long-awaited return versus Dustin Poirier at the event. It’s a huge fight, yet the return of New York native “Bones” is the biggest possible spectacle they can book for the card.

We’ve seen and heard White and the UFC do one thing and claiming it would never happen. Is Kawa playing the same game?

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Georges St-Pierre Details Why Tyron Woodley Isn’t Welterweight G.O.A.T.

MMA legend Georges St-Pierre acknowledges that current UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley is one of the best ever. But pump your brakes on crowning him the greatest of all-time just yet. Woodley toppled formerly undefeated challenger Darren Till with a dominant second-round submission in the featured bout of September 8’s UFC 228. Till landed only […]

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MMA legend Georges St-Pierre acknowledges that current UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley is one of the best ever. But pump your brakes on crowning him the greatest of all-time just yet.

Woodley toppled formerly undefeated challenger Darren Till with a dominant second-round submission in the featured bout of September 8’s UFC 228. Till landed only one strike in the fight.

The victory lead to Woodley’s coach Din Thomas awarding him his Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt for first UFC submission. It also lead to Thomas claiming Woodley was close to attaining welterweight G.O.A.T. status. Not so fast, however, says the consensus current 170-pound G.O.A.T.

Longtime former UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre spoke in an interview with FanSided to give his opinion on the feverishly-discussed debate. St-Pierre gave respect to Woodley for beating Till, but stopped short of crowning him the greatest 170 pounds had ever seen:

“The greatest is hard to say; there is also another guy named Matt Hughes who at one point was one of the greatest,” St-Pierre said. “There are some fighters, I’m not saying Tyron Woodley is one of these guys; he is an incredible fighter, but there are guys in this sport sometimes they become champion and they have an easier time than others in terms of opponent, in terms of challenges.”

Strength Of Opponents

St-Pierre defended his title nine times to Woodley’s three and one retention due to a draw.

So Woodley is one of the best ever at welterweight, but his overall body of work still pales in comparison to that of “GSP.” St-Pierre appeared to throw some shade at Woodley’s challenges in the previous quote, yet clarified that by respecting ‘The Chosen One’s’ opponents shortly after.

St-Pierre believes Woodley is in a good spot in terms of legacy because of it:

“Tyron had to go through great fighters like Stephen Thompson and his last performance was outstanding against Darren Till. There was a lot of hype on Darren Till because he was undefeated. Tyron just shut him down incredibly good. Tyron is in a good way in terms of legacy and in terms of being the greatest.”

There is a conceivable way to find out just whom is the best welterweight of all-time, and that’s for them to fight.

However, ‘Rush’ recently discussed why he doesn’t want to fight Woodley right now. He believes he stands little to gain in terms of legacy and popularity, while Woodley stands to gain everything in both. That could be true from a certain point of view.

St-Pierre has been out of action since he won the UFC middleweight title by submitting Michael Bisping in the main event of last November’s UFC 217 from Madison Square Garden. He vacated the title shortly thereafter and has been linked to a new comeback fight. There are whispers he’ll face the winner of October 6’s Khabib Nurmagomeov vs. Conor McGregor lightweight title bout.

Nothing is official, of course, and St-Pierre’s return is beyond up in the air. Just don’t count on it being against Woodley.

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Khabib’s Manager Reveals Ultra-Personal Blowup With Conor McGregor

It’s no secret that Conor McGregor is a master at getting into his opponents’ heads. That has now extended to Khabib’s manager heading into his awaited showdown with Nurmagomedov at UFC 229. McGregor finally made his first press appearance opposite Khabib at this week’s UFC 229 press conference from New York City. In an over-the-top […]

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It’s no secret that Conor McGregor is a master at getting into his opponents’ heads. That has now extended to Khabib’s manager heading into his awaited showdown with Nurmagomedov at UFC 229.

McGregor finally made his first press appearance opposite Khabib at this week’s UFC 229 press conference from New York City. In an over-the-top scene, a whiskey-drinking McGregor sounded off on a litany of topics. He blamed Khabib for his controversial New York bus attack this April. He took a few more shots at Khabib’s father Abdulmanap and even issued a few death threats at the current champ.

But the most personal of all of McGregor’s barbs was perhaps directed at Khabib’s manager Ali Abdelaziz. After the normal staredown to end the presser, McGregor laid into Abdelaziz with a seething assessment of his personal affairs.

McGregor reportedly blasted the prominent manager by calling him a ‘terrorist’ and a ‘snitch’ among other things:

“Shut your mouth, Ali Abdelaziz! Mad terrorist. Terrorist snitch. I know a lot about you as well, you mad rat! I know a lot about you as well. You keep your mouth shut, kid. Let me take my picture. How’s Noah? How’s Noah? Huh? Yeah. Shut your mouth! Never speak about me ever in your life. Watch yourself around me because you’ll be out of here quick.”

“**** you! Fool! Don’t come at the king. Don’t ever come at the king.”

The Noah in question is a son that Abdelaziz reportedly abandoned when he became an informant for the NYPD. Abdelaziz allegedly owes $50,000 in back child support to Noah and his mother.

What Prompted It?

Abdelaziz recently revealed to Anatomy of a Fighter just what he said to McGregor to spark the personal blowup. Apparently, he just asked McGregor why he showed up to the presser with the belt when he had been stripped:

“I just said why he have belt. That’s it. I said that. Why he have belt?”

McGregor is acting more aggressive than ever before heading into UFC 229, and that’s saying a lot. There’s a mixed, highly polarized view of just what that actually means in terms of the fight.

But one thing is certain. The Irish megastar is trying to make things as personal as possible with anyone involved with Khabib in order to gain any mental advantage he can. Abdelaziz’s personal history may sound a bit seedy to those looking in from the outside.

It seems McGregor did his research to find just how deep that went. Will it help or hurt him come October?

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