Stop me if you've heard this one before: Jon Jones failed a drug test.
The troubled UFC (now former) light heavyweight champion has, once again, failed a drug test. And for the third time in his career, he has been stripped of UFC gold.
It seems like a lifetime ago when Jones was a rising contender who won 6 of his first 7 fights in the UFC, four of them by stoppage. His lone blemish was a BS disqualification to Matt Hamill.
Then, he went on an unfathomable run of successful title fights winning bouts against Shogun Rua (to win the title), Rampage Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Rashad Evans, Vitor Belfort, Chael Sonnen, Alexander Gustafsson, Glover Teixeira, and Daniel Cormier. Five of those wins came by stoppage.
But, prior to the fight with DC, "Bones" showed his first glimpse of a potential character issue: he failed a pre-fight drug test for cocaine. Seriously, Jon? Coke?
Prior to that, Jones' only real issue had been getting a DUI. But most people didn't really see that as a sign of a troubled individual; more of just a dumb mistake. But after the failed drug test, the writing started to appear on the wall. But many people, including myself, gave Jon the benefit of the doubt. Maybe he was just struggling with the superstar lifestyle. Maybe his fame had put him around the wrong people. Maybe this would serve as a learning experience to get his life back on track. And Jones said it was; but his actions showed otherwise.
Due to cocaine not being something that the UFC dished out suspensions for at the time, Jones was allowed to fight DC and continue with his career.
After the dismantling of Cormier, Jones was set to face Rumble Johnson. But, less than a month before the fight, Jones was involved in a hit-and-run incident. Jones rammed his rental car into a vehicle that a pregnant woman was driving then fled on foot. Then, he returned to the scene of the accident to grab some cash out of the glove box before taking off again. Unfortunately for him, an off-duty cop witnessed the accident. And to make matters worse, officers found weed in the car. As a result, the UFC suspended Jon and stripped him of the light heavyweight title for the first time.
Jones said his life would be different. He vowed to learn from his mistakes. I still wanted to root for Jones. I mean, come on, he was the most dominant fighter in UFC history. I wanted to see him do well. I wanted to believe that he had matured, and that after a third strike he knew he had to make changes. And almost a year to the day, Jones returned from his suspension to take on Ovince St. Preux for the interim- light heavyweight title.
Jones was victorious and once again had gold around his waist. The victory set up a rematch with DC, who had captured the LHW title in Jones' absence. The date was set for the biggest fight card in UFC history: UFC 200. But three days before the clash, Jones pissed hot again.
"Bones" was flagged for an estrogen blocker which is a typical sign of steroid use. However, Jones claimed he took some bad Cialis. Cialis... Really, Jon?
But the athletic commission concluded that Jon didn't take the estrogen blocker intentionally and was instead the victim of a "tainted supplement". The punishment: 1 year suspension and being stripped of his title for the second time.
Again, I wanted to believe. If the commission believes him, why shouldn't I?
His suspension ended in July and the rematch with DC was on. Jones said he was a new man. He had been clean and sober for several months. He was re-dedicated to MMA. And he damn sure looked like it at UFC 214 where he starched DC to regain the title.
All was right in the MMA world. Jones had overcome his demons and regained his status of the greatest. He destroyed his rival and was the light heavyweight kingpin once again. But it didn't last long.
Yesterday, a tainted drug test for Jones was revealed. Steroids. The death sentence in MMA. His legacy permanently tarnished. While it will take a little time for a suspension to be handed down, the UFC wasted no time in stripping Jones of the title for the third time.
This time, I can't back him up. I can't give him any excuses. I can't give him the benefit of the doubt. Time and time again, Jones has shown him self to be unable to follow the rules.
Now, he is waiting for his day in court. Of course, Jones and his team say it's not possible. But everything in this guy's past says that it is possible... and likely.
A man that could have been the greatest fighter of all time will now go down as a cheat. A waste of talent. A druggie. A man who doesn't belong in the sport.
Call me wrong. Call me crazy. I just call it how I see it. #NailedIt
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