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Timeline: A Week In The Life of Jon Jones

If there was ever a week that would go on to define a fighter as a whole, this would be the week for UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones.

In case you drank too much “egg-nog” over the holidays and put yourself into a week-long coma, here is a timeline for the week that had Jones going from on top of the world to rock-bottom.

Friday, January 2nd

It’s fight week, and fans end their work weeks, excited for the most anticipated UFC event in recent history, UFC 182. The fighters go through all of their fight night-eve rituals. Fighters do interviews with media, focus on cutting weight, go through medical examination, complete their pre-fight drug test, and most importantly, weigh-in.

This was just the beginning of the unusual week for Jon Jones. So much animosity between him and Daniel Cormier, but the weigh-in stare-off proves to be a disappointment. It seems as though the two men would save their words for fight night, but less than an hour later, Dana White posted an Instagram video that proved otherwise.

These guys won’t stop!!! This just happened in the fighter meeting and this NEVER happens. #UFC182 #ufc A video posted by Dana White (@danawhiteufc) on

The fighter meeting is usually a meeting for Dana White to pump up the fighters and to remind them to put on exciting performances. Never before have fighters used this as a time to verbally spar with their opponent.

Saturday, January 3rd  

It’s Fight Night!!! Fans enter the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada for UFC 182. Before his title fight against Daniel Cormier, Jon Jones decides that he isn’t feeling all that hyped up, and needs a good rush of energy. He turned down the offer of caffeine from coach Greg Jackson, and instead goes for a natural high.

Now, it’s time for what everyone has been looking forward to. The very disappointing main card couldn’t take the wind out of the sails that this boat was riding on. After 24 minutes and 55 seconds of fighting, Jones threw his arms in the air, certain that he has done enough for the judges to award him the win.

In yet another moment that has never been seen before, Jones threw punches at Cormier right before the horn, Cormier threw more during and after the horn, followed by Jones giving Cormier the “Suck It” gesture.  

I doubt that Greg Jackson would approve of the gesture, but Jon wasn’t thinking about the fans. He had just defeated a man who he felt had insulted him. For all of those who thought that the animosity between these two would dissolve after they fought were incorrect in their assessment of the feud.

Jon Jones, loved or hated, was still the UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion, and took one step closer to the title of Greatest Of All Time.

Sunday, January 4th

For Jon Jones, the greatest Light-Heavyweight Champion in UFC history, a rest was needed….not before a nice after party at Hakkasan Las Vegas though. 

Tuesday, January 6th

The headline that no one ever expected to see.

The man who had just defended his UFC title for the eighth time had tested positive on a drug test and would now be sent away to rehab. Unbelievable. The UFC quickly responded to the news with a statement, supporting the UFC Champion for entering rehab.

It didn’t take long for the news to reach mainstream media, and before long, different memes mocking Jones appeared and spread like wildfire.

Wednesday, January 7th 

If Jon Jones and the UFC thought that Tuesday would be a bad day for them, they had no idea what was going to hit them the next day.

The day began with heavy criticism, as it was released that the UFC and the NSAC knew about the positive test prior to UFC 182. Not only did neither group act on the positive test, but neither Jones nor Cormier were told about it until after their fight.

What followed was a he said/she said between different people in the NSAC and the UFC. Did the NSAC have the test results before Dec 18th? Did they test for “street drugs” on Dec 18th? Why did the lab paper work contradict what NSAC Director Bob Bennett said?

Before it could even hit dinnertime on the east coast, Jones was hit with another bombshell.

Jones pleaded with the Nevada commission that he lost his Nike sponsorship due to his brawl with Daniel Cormier, which was a hefty punishment already laid on him. Jones recently clarified that he did not lose the sponsorship due to the brawl.  This could mean a possible fine for Jones if he was found to have lied under oath, or could be a reason on top of the positive cocaine test to deny him a fighting licence. 

The worst had yet to come though, as MMA forums began to dissect the recently released drug test results. It did not take long for rumors to swirl over whether or not Jones was using performance enhancing drugs.

jones drug

The pitch-forks were raised, and people demanded answers. In the court of public opinion, Jones went from the most dominate man in UFC Light-Heavyweight history to a cocaine abusing, steroid user.   The day couldn’t end without some ridiculous statements made by Dana White in order to take the heat off of Jon Jones. 

At the end of the day, fans were left suspicious of the activity of the major players involved. Were the UFC and NSAC being truthful and divulging everything? Had Jones been taking performance enhancing drugs? This is when a call to action rang out that Jones should have his samples run through a CIR test.

Thursday, January 8th

The day started out with another young champion, Anthony Pettis, voicing his thoughts on the story. Pettis said that he knew what type of pressures Jon Jones faces as a young champion, with people around him trying to subject him to similar temptations.

Following Pettis’ comments was news that the NSAC had gone through with what the public demanded by testing Jon Jones’ samples through CIR tests. The results:

The first piece of good news to hit the UFC and Jon Jones following the release of his positive test for cocaine. This news hushed most of the steroid allegations against Jones.

Friday, January 9th

Finally a day of rest after a frazzled couple of days for MMA fans and media. As both parties began to assess how the whole situation played out, another fighter, who has had his fair share of problems with the NSAC, shared his thoughts.

   

The crazy week for Jon Jones has ended with a video message of support from Pride legend Wanderlei Silva, which is in someways, a suitable and endearing ending to the week. 

There are still questions to be answered, and tons of information that will eventually be released. Jon Jones will come out of rehab to a media fire-storm, and will continue to be the most polarizing figure in MMA. 

All of this will only add to the roller-coaster of a career for the man who is without a doubt, pound-for-pound, the best fighter in the world, Jon Jones. 

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