UFC light heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones, the top pound-for-pound fighter in the company, tested positive for cocaine less than a month before a scheduled title defense against Daniel Cormier at UFC 182. Jones was not punished however, and successfully defended the belt before entering rehab shortly after the fight.
Jones released a statement admitting he had a problem and requesting privacy, but reportedly lasted just one day in rehab. His mother painted the incident as a poor decision made while partying with friends, and the whole situation has fellow UFC fighters shaking their heads.
"They drug tested him and he popped," light heavyweight Phil Davis said. "Now, I'm just a stupid fighter, but it sounded like, if they drug tested him, they were looking to do something if he popped. So I think you gotta do something. But then again, what do I know? I'm just a stupid fighter."
Alexander Gustafsson, who gave Jones arguably the toughest bout of his career and was supposed to be his opponent before injury knocked him out, also weighed in on Jones’ misstep.
"It is bad for the sport, bad for the organization. We're supposed to be role models. You're supposed to stay above that sort of thing,” Gustafsson said.
Jones’ talent has helped him rise to the very top of the sport, but he has never become a beloved fighter. This news, coupled with his lack of consequences, is unlikely to improve his perception among fans. Cormier addressed this last week, and lamented the opportunity to become a global icon that he thinks Jones is squandering.
I just wish that he would get it together and be that beacon of light, beacon of hope that so many people need in the world right now,” Cormier said.
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