Return of the King?
Jon Jones has risen to the top of his sport yet again, from being the youngest champion in UFC history to his only lose being a disqualification it seems like Jones is on a collision course with greatness. Yet failed drug tests and prison time have set Jones career back. But now that he has reclaimed his crown has that all been changed? And for how long?
Jon Jones is arguably the greatest fighter to ever grace the sport of mixed martial arts. His move set seems to be that of a professional dancer everything flows and has a purpose. As he beautifully throws spinning elbows and flying knees he does so knowing he could be so much more. Beyond the failed drug tests and prison time Jones has shown the ability to be the greatest fighter to ever live, he has defeated greats such as Mauricio Rua, Rashad Evans, Vitor Belfort and Lyoto Machida. Jones has overcome everything his career has thrown his way, so is there any reason to believe that he cannot overcome a picogram of turinabol in his system? Some believe so.
Flash back to July of 2017, Jones had just finished serving a suspension for breaking the UFCs anti-doping policies, he returns to an electric crowd and defeats Daniel Cormier to reclaim the tittle he never lost. Jones is back on top. But it was all short lived as it had been discovered that he had yet again broken the anti-doping policies of the UFC and would now face a 15 month suspension. for those next 15 months Jones would sit at home and watch as his bitter rival Daniel Cormier did all the things he wished he could do, from defending the light heavyweight tittle to moving up to the heavyweight division and becoming the second ever double champion in the UFC, to having an in ring encounter with sports mega star Brock Lesnar. Jones sat and waited.
Until December 2018, Jones would finally return and face Alexander Gustafsson for the light heavyweight tittle. Things would be fixed then. He would reclaim his crown in emphatic fashion, finishing the Swede in the third round with a flurry of punches while on top of him. Of course like all of Jones career this did not come without controversy. Days before the fight Jon Jones had tested positive for a trace amount of turinabol that was found in his system, the same substance he was suspended for 15 months prior. The US Anti-Doping Agency had said that the trace amount was the equivalent of throwing a grain of salt into an Olympic swimming pool and that they would not suspend Jones for the test due to the fact it could be left over from the last testing. Jones had gotten off. The Nevada State Athletic Commission however would not sanction Jones to fight due to the failed test. Therefore on last minute notice the UFC moved the event from Las Vegas to California where the athletic commission would sanction Jones to fight and thus we have our main event.
The UFC has put all of its chips on Jones and if he fails another drug test it could all be over for the would be king of the combat sports world. But if he does pass and remains clean what is next for Jon Jones? A trilogy fight with Cormier for the Heavyweight Championship of the world? A battle with UFC great Cain Velasquez that was at one point the most wanted fight in the UFC? Or is it purely a money fight with former heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar? Only time will tell, and only Jones truly knows what the future holds. Hopefully that future is a clean finish to an amazing yet controversial career.
Jon Jones is arguably the greatest fighter to ever grace the sport of mixed martial arts. His move set seems to be that of a professional dancer everything flows and has a purpose. As he beautifully throws spinning elbows and flying knees he does so knowing he could be so much more. Beyond the failed drug tests and prison time Jones has shown the ability to be the greatest fighter to ever live, he has defeated greats such as Mauricio Rua, Rashad Evans, Vitor Belfort and Lyoto Machida. Jones has overcome everything his career has thrown his way, so is there any reason to believe that he cannot overcome a picogram of turinabol in his system? Some believe so.
Flash back to July of 2017, Jones had just finished serving a suspension for breaking the UFCs anti-doping policies, he returns to an electric crowd and defeats Daniel Cormier to reclaim the tittle he never lost. Jones is back on top. But it was all short lived as it had been discovered that he had yet again broken the anti-doping policies of the UFC and would now face a 15 month suspension. for those next 15 months Jones would sit at home and watch as his bitter rival Daniel Cormier did all the things he wished he could do, from defending the light heavyweight tittle to moving up to the heavyweight division and becoming the second ever double champion in the UFC, to having an in ring encounter with sports mega star Brock Lesnar. Jones sat and waited.
Until December 2018, Jones would finally return and face Alexander Gustafsson for the light heavyweight tittle. Things would be fixed then. He would reclaim his crown in emphatic fashion, finishing the Swede in the third round with a flurry of punches while on top of him. Of course like all of Jones career this did not come without controversy. Days before the fight Jon Jones had tested positive for a trace amount of turinabol that was found in his system, the same substance he was suspended for 15 months prior. The US Anti-Doping Agency had said that the trace amount was the equivalent of throwing a grain of salt into an Olympic swimming pool and that they would not suspend Jones for the test due to the fact it could be left over from the last testing. Jones had gotten off. The Nevada State Athletic Commission however would not sanction Jones to fight due to the failed test. Therefore on last minute notice the UFC moved the event from Las Vegas to California where the athletic commission would sanction Jones to fight and thus we have our main event.
The UFC has put all of its chips on Jones and if he fails another drug test it could all be over for the would be king of the combat sports world. But if he does pass and remains clean what is next for Jon Jones? A trilogy fight with Cormier for the Heavyweight Championship of the world? A battle with UFC great Cain Velasquez that was at one point the most wanted fight in the UFC? Or is it purely a money fight with former heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar? Only time will tell, and only Jones truly knows what the future holds. Hopefully that future is a clean finish to an amazing yet controversial career.
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