Jon Jones stripped of his belt again

Jon Jones successfully defended his UFC light heavyweight championship against Daniel Cormier at UFC 182 on January 3, 2015. However, the title was later stripped over his involvement in an automobile accident in which a pregnant woman was injured, and Jones fled on foot.

Daniel Cormier then fought Anthony Johnson for the now vacant belt, and won at UFC 187 on May 23, 2015. ‘DC’ then defended the title successfully vs. Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 192 on October 3, 2015.

When Jones returned from suspension, a fight was planned vs. Cormier at UFC 197 on April 23, 2016. Cormier then suffered an injury, and Jones fought Ovince Saint Preux instead, and won, earning the interim championship.

A unification fight between Cormier and Jones was planned for UFC 200, but was canceled when Jones tested positive for a Specified Substance. These carry a maximum one-year suspension, rather than the two-years that is standard for a PED, based on the potential for a credible non-doping explanation.

On Monday he was suspended for the full one-year by the United States Anti-Doping Agency. USADA ruled that he had taken the drug unintentionally, but gave him the full penalty due to the recklessness he showed in taking a contaminated sexual aid that a friend had purchased on the black market.

Jones will be eligible to fight again on July 7, 2017.

Now during a recent appearance on ESPN’s 5ive Rounds podcast, UFC president Dana White says Jones has been stripped of the belt again.

“It doesn’t make sense,” said White, as transcribed by Brett Okamoto for ESPN . “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.”

“Jon Jones has blown it in every way, shape and form a guy with that much talent can blow it. Greatest talent ever and the biggest screw-up ever.”