Jon Jones is arguably the greatest fighter in history, and the fact stands that he can only defeat himself. Especially when he’s under oath. What transpired today at his California State Athletic Commission hearing on his failed drug tests was nothing short of stunning, with Jones receiving a $205,000 fine and his license being revoked for a year. USADA is still considering a 4-year ban for Jones under the UFC’s anti-doping policy, with that decision being passed down in the coming months.
But it was how Jones limped to the finish line that truly astonished the viewers of his hearing. Throughout the three hour grilling of the former two-time UFC light heavyweight champ, Jones admitted that he was suspended during the UFC’s implementation of USADA, and didn’t know he was taking supplements that were illegal. When the commission dug deeper, and asked how he could not know when he himself signed off on his USADA training and understood his online education material, Jones admitted that he never signed it, his manager Malki Kawa had.
That alone raised eyebrows and was one of the many nails in Jones’ coffin, but then his so-called expert witness was brought up to testify on his behalf, stating that his usage of Turinabol was unintentional. After much discussion, the witness agreed that there was no proof and he was making assumptions.
It was bad. And everyone was watching it like a car crash in slow motion.
When I was nine years old, I watched a woman run into a crosswalk and get absolutely smashed by a four-door sedan so hard she cartwheeled over the body of the vehicle. I've never got to watch someone drown live before, though. Thanks, Jon Jones.
— Jordan Breen (@jordanbreen) February 27, 2018
#JonesCSAC pic.twitter.com/o1kKtgLvbY
— Cynthia Vance • シンシア (@cynthiavance) February 27, 2018
Commissioner: “Did you take the USADA training courses?”
Jones: “No. My management did it for me.”
Director: “Alright. Slow zoom out. Wait for Malki to squirm. There’s the shot. Great job, Ted.” pic.twitter.com/fXO9lQi4Vy
— RJ Clifford (@RJcliffordMMA) February 27, 2018
10-8 for Martha Shen-Urquidez so far. She is not messing around with her questioning of Jon Jones
— José Youngs (@JoseYoungs) February 27, 2018
It's amusing and somewhat sad how a fighter's team is often confident going into these things, and then 99% of the time the fighter's defense is really bad. This is another one of those cases. https://t.co/miFfIMqHoH
— Dan Plunkett (@Dan_Plunkett) February 27, 2018
https://twitter.com/iainkidd/status/968584629518290946
Uh-Oh. Trouble in paradise. Actually, I have considered changing my management. #JonesCSAC
— Stephie Haynes (@CrooklynMMA) February 27, 2018
From the MMA Fighting Facebook comments section:
"Mario Yamasaki must be the in charge of stopping this because Jon Jones is getting beat down and no one is their to save him"
— Mookie Alexander (@mookiealexander) February 27, 2018
https://twitter.com/iainkidd/status/968589098213629960
BREAKING: some guy brought Jon Jones a bottle of water and then his agent brought him a glass of water. Jon Jones now has three beverages. #JonesHearing
— Tommy Toe Hold (@TommyToeHold) February 27, 2018
Jon Jones said he never actually did USADA antidoping tutorials, but instead left that to his management who apparently claimed he did. He has been clueless on a number of points put before him today.
— Josh Gross (@yay_yee) February 27, 2018
Live footage of Jon Jones putting his “friends and family” under the bus pic.twitter.com/oF2SZ6KKqZ
— Dan LaMorte (@DanLaMorte) February 27, 2018
Jon Jones asking the commission what effectively amounts to, "Don't you guys think I would've been caught a long time ago?"
That… is not a good defense. #JonesCSAC
— Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) February 27, 2018
https://twitter.com/SecretMovesMMA/status/968572877955059713
Commissioner Shen-Urquidez opened her comments to Jon Jones by saying it wasn't her intent to embarrass him. Unfortunately, he's done a great job of doing that all on his own with the answers to her line of questioning.
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) February 27, 2018
Jon Jones just said Barry Bonds doing steroids makes boxing look bad pic.twitter.com/EpzkogBKDR
— Dan LaMorte (@DanLaMorte) February 27, 2018
All may not be lost for Bones. He can technically re-apply for his CSAC license in March of 2019, but USADA will likely give him a 2-4 year suspension, putting his once-great career on the backburner for a long, long time.
