The MMA world is still reeling from the Christmas anti-miracle that is UFC 232 getting moved from Las Vegas to Los Angeles over an ‘abnormal’ Jon Jones drug test. Specifically, a December USADA urine test that found 60 picograms of oral Turinabol metabolite in Jones’ system, an amount that USADA and the UFC both agree is probably from his initial drug test failure in July of 2017.
But wait ... the metabolite didn’t show up in several other Jones drug tests? And it shows up again now, a year and a half later? Is everyone really 100% sure that points to a tiny amount still hanging around? The skeptical side of me wonders whether this is all just poorly done micro-dosing. Add in Jones’ suspicious T/E levels in 2015 and off brand Viagra excuse in 2016 and I’m starting to doubt Jon’s pretty convincing “I’m just a f**k up” line.
Whatever the case, Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson will still go down, just at the Forum in Inglewood instead of the T-Mobile Arena in Vegas.
I’m from guatemala city, I bought tickets for #UFC232 for my family now it’s cancel, i have bought already plane tickets, car rent, hotel, shows in las vegas from 28-30 of dec, the reason of the Travel is #UFC232 what are you going to do with us? @DamonMartin @ufc @danawhite
— RC (@rccastt) December 24, 2018
I spent $1200 on hotel and flight for UFC 232 on Priceline, and told nothing can be refunded. I don't know what to do. Feeling fucked by the UFC right now.. Smh #ufc232
— Jeremy Daneman (@jdaneman) December 24, 2018
Fans who booked up a Vegas vacation with the intent of attending UFC 232 are pissed. Also unhappy? Daniel Cormier, whose legacy is forever tied to Jon Jones and his many screw ups. “DC” responded to the situation shortly after it was revealed, panning USADA and thanking the Nevada commission for not moving forward with the fight.
He tested positive again!
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) December 23, 2018
That last Instagram post caught Jones’ attention, and things quickly got personal. Here’s what he wrote to Cormier in the comments before quickly deleting the message:
Jones released an official statement on the situation and then followed it up with this:
Thanks for the laugh, I needed that night. $150,000 to any charity in Lafayette if he accepts my challenge. Let’s see if his IG stops working again https://t.co/6LdQW9LfAU
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) December 24, 2018
Here’s what Cormier fired back:
Keep the money, more stringent drug testing and no excuses or mishaps and I’ll give 125,000 to charity in Lafayette and 125,000 to a charity in San Jose. You just pay for the drug testing! #cheater https://t.co/RqtHv1r7Ra
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) December 24, 2018
It tickles my pickle when you call me a cheater, have you convinced yourself I cheated the first time too? https://t.co/yzOWenlkFJ
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) December 24, 2018
Yep, in case you thought things had changed in the last ten minutes, Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier still don’t like each other.