Jon Jones tired of being 'bent over' by UFC, calls Vitor Belfort steroid scandal a 'slap in the face'

Despite being reinstated by Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Jon Jones' relationship with the mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion isn't exactly peaches and cream.

Sure, they've given the former light heavyweight champion more than his fair share of chances following his numerous transgressions (examples here and here). But, they've also wronged him a few times, in his view.

Aside from the whole UFC 151 debacle in which Jones says he was "treated like a piece of meat," Jon said they put him in danger when they let him fight a steroid-infused Vitor Belfort a few months later at UFC 152.

A real "slap in the face," said Jones during his extensive interview with Ariel Helwani, considering UFC allegedly knew "The Phenom" was fighting dirty.

"Vitor Belfort was on steroids when I fought him. The UFC was very well aware, way before the fight. They did nothing to penalize him. They let the fight go on knowing that I was fighting a guy on steroids, which is a hazard to my life. What do you do? I'm interested to hear their explanation. To know that they put me in there with him, knowing that he was on [something], it's really a slap to the face. They let Vitor fight on steroids against me, UFC 151 was all my fault. I know I haven't been the greatest guy to work with in the past. I'm not gonna sit here and bash Dana, but I prefer talking to Lorenzo when I do business. I would like to be more of a company guy and do things right, but at the same time, I've been bent over quite a few times by them. It's just like...it's hard to see where I stand, man. I just hope the fans are aware of some of the shenanigans they pull."

Nothing like speaking from the heart.

After receiving probation for his hit-and-run accident earlier this year in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Jones is eying a return to the Octagon in the first quarter of 2016. A return which will see him rematch Daniel Cormier in a five-round championship fight.

This time, though, Jones will be going in as the challenger, not the champion.

Or is he?