One of the greatest fighters in MMA history is set to return to the Octagon very soon, and I’ll give my thoughts on this big news in today’s MMA odds and ends.
Jon Jones Receives 15-Month Suspension From USADA, Return Imminent
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones’ latest saga wiht USADA is finally over. USADA announced that an independent arbitrator reviewed Jones’ case last week and determined that 15 months is the right sanction for his second violation of the UFC’s anti-doping policy. Jones had tested positive for metabolites of an anabolic steroid. The arbitrator determined that Jones was not intentionally cheating and USADA decided to take off 33 months of a possible 48-month suspension for Jones, leaving him with just 15 months to serve. Since the suspension is backdated to the positive test, which happened on July 28, 2017, just before his fight at UFC 214 against Daniel Cormier, this means that Jones will be able to return to the Octagon this fall at the earliest. With the UFC desperate for headliners for some of their end-of-year pay-per-views, this news is a huge positive to the UFC as the matchmakers try to fill out the rest of this year’s cards. And it’s obviously huge news for Jones, who was at risk of having his career ruined had he gotten the full four years. Instead, he got what amounts to a big slap on the wrist considering this was his second time testing positive for a banned substance. Although, having said that, he still has a No Contest on his record and Cormier has the belt now.
Now that Jones is free to return soon, the media and fans are already speculating on who he should fight in his return. Obviously a trilogy fight with Cormier makes a lot of sense. Even though Cormier is the heavyweight champion as well now and waiting for Brock Lesnar to return, it’s possible a third fight with Jones could convince him to move back down to light heavyweight. If the Cormier fight doesn’t happen, then a rematch with Alexander Gustafsson makes sense as well, perhaps for an interim belt if Cormier is staying at heavyweight or even just for the next title shot. Jones and Gustafsson famously fought to the 2013 “Fight of the Year” at UFC 165, with Jones edging out a close decision to keep his belt. Fans have waited five years to watch the rematch and it’s possible it could happen sooner than later. Gustafsson is already on his social media calling Jones out so perhaps we aren’t far away from the rematch between the two rivals. The other matchup for Jones that is intriguing is a fight against Lesnar himself. Yes, Cormier has the belt and called out Lesnar already, but if Lesnar view Jones as the bigger fight perhaps he’ll try to get the UFC to give him that fight instead. Either way, it’s just good to finally get some closure on Jones’ situation with USADA, and his return to the UFC strengthens the promotion’s product as it heads into the ESPN era.
