Jon Jones’ week has gone from bad to worse.
The former long-time UFC light heavyweight champion has had the interim iteration of the title he never lost taken away from him.
Jones claimed the interim belt when he bested Ovince Saint Preux over five rounds in his April comeback to the Octagon but ‘Bones’ remained an active fighter for just a matter of months before his most recent indiscretion landed him in more hot water.
The 29-year-old tested positive for two oestregen blockers – clomiphene, a banned anti-oestrogenic substance, and ‘traces of letrozole, an aromatase inhibitor, which works to prevent the synthesis of androgens such as testosterone into oestrogen’ days ahead of scheduled rematch with Daniel Cormier at UFC 200.
Jones was immediately removed from the card and received his punishment from the United States Anti-Doping Agency this week.
Jon Jones has received his ban for his failed drug test from UFC 200 https://t.co/50UeFwkWmI
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) November 8, 2016
He was handed the maximum penalty by USADA, who suspended the pound-for-pound great for one year retroactive to the date of the failed test.
And now, for the second time in two years, Jones has been stripped of a title as ESPN report that the UFC have officially taken his belt away.
“It doesn’t make sense,” White told ESPN’s 5ive Rounds podcast. “He was the interim champion because he should have been fighting for the title [in April]. We gave him this, ‘You were supposed to fight for the title, here it is.’
“It doesn’t make sense with all the stuff that is going on for him to still be the interim champion.”
Jones has yet to sit before the Nevada State Athletic Commission, who could well throw the book at the recidivist and give him an even lengthier ban than USADA.
“Jon Jones has blown it in every way shape and form a guy with that much talent can blow it,” White said. “Greatest talent ever and the biggest screw-up ever.”
