Jon Jones' UFC 172 date with hulking slugger Glover Texeira is rapidly approaching, and "Bones" has begun insinuating some things about his opponent that might make him angry. He requested that both fighters be subject to random drug testing for this bout, but let slip that he won't always be requiring these lengths.
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When asked if the testing is something all his opponents will have to deal with going forward, Jones was very candid with his response. "Not necessarily. I just thought I would have Glover tested because he's not the youngest fighter and everyone raves about how strong he is."
Jones' implications are clear, and in his next comments he attempted to mask the clear statement he was making. The attempt was feeble, though. "Some fighters, you just know they're not on anything just by looking at them. Part of (Teixeira's) mystique is his amazing physical strength and I just questioned it. I have no reason to think he's on steroids but I do wonder how someone can be so strong."
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Still, it is hard to fault Jones for imposing the testing if he believes his livelihood is at risk. In a sport as physical as mixed martial arts, performance enhancing drugs can literally be the difference between life and death. Jones also said that he's fought opponents before that he knew were juicing.
"As far as saying that I'm sure I've fought other guys in the past on steroids, I think it's pretty well-documented," Jones said. "A lot of people haven't really argued with it because they know it's a true statement. I know it's a true statement."
Reportedly, UFC president Dana White was on board with Jones' insistence on testing. "I called Dana White and said, 'Hey, I want Glover to take steroid tests for this fight,' " Jones said. "He asked me, 'What, you think he's on steroids?' I told him I don't know and I have no reason to accuse him of anything but I would like to be sure.
"Dana told me how the Georges and Johny Hendricks thing became one big cluster because Georges wanted Johny to be tested by a certain company. He recommended I not go that way and talk to the commission directly so I said, 'OK.' "
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