Jon Jones out of UFC 200 over potential anti-doping violation
The UFC 200 main event has taken a major hit just three days from the landmark event.
Jon Jones was flagged for a potential anti-doping policy violation and pulled from his light-heavyweight championship fight against Daniel Cormier on Saturday night.
"The UFC organization was notified tonight that the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has informed Jon Jones of a potential anti-doping policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collection on June 16, 2016," UFC vice president of athlete health and performance Jeff Novitzky announced Wednesday. "USADA, the independent administrator of the UFC anti-doping policy, will handle results management and appropriate adjudication of this case. It is important to note under the UFC anti-doping policy there's a full, fair legal review process that is afforded to all athletes before any sanctions are imposed.
"However, because Jones was scheduled to compete against Daniel Cormier this coming Saturday, July 9 in Las Vegas, there's insufficient time for a full review before the scheduled bout and therefore the fight has been removed from the fight card."
With Jones off the card and his fight with Cormier cancelled, the UFC has elevated Brock Lesnar's return vs. Mark Hunt to the main event at UFC 200. It will remain a three-round fight.
It's the second time that UFC 200 has lost its main event. Conor McGregor's rematch with Nate Diaz, which originally was set as the headlining fight, was scrapped in April when McGregor balked at doing promotional work and announced he was retiring. McGregor had a change of hard days later, but the rematch with Diaz was instead scheduled for UFC 202 in August.
White said that at the time of Wednesday's press conference he hadn't spoken to Jones, but the interim light-heavyweight champion will be afforded the same due process as all fighters who are flagged for a potential doping violation.
"Obviously, he's got the chance to prove himself innocent before being held guilty, but if it's true, obviously super, super disappointing," White said.
"The way this process works, the Nevada State Athletic Commission is told first, then we are told and then they notify the fighters."
It's just the latest setback for Jones (22-1), who has been almost unbeatable in the Octagon but has jeopardized his career and legacy with his behavior outside of it.
Jones was arrested and pled guilty to DUI charges in 2012. He tested positive for a metabolite of cocaine prior to UFC 182 and entered rehab. In April 2015, Jones was arrested after a hit-and-run accident that also cost him his light heavyweight title and a lengthy suspension from the UFC. Jones was then placed back into custody on a probation violation after being flagged for a drag racing ticket back in March.
Jones returned this past April to fight Cormier for the title he lost, but Cormier pulled out with an injury and their fight was rescheduled for UFC 200. Now it's off again.
If Jones ends up facing sanctions, they could be rather severe. A suspension could be two years or more, and it sounds like Cormier wouldn't wait around to find out what will happen to the 28-year-old Jones before he moves on to a new opponent.
White said the UFC will field offers for a last-minute opponent willing to step up on short notice to face Cormier on Saturday night.
"This is devastating to Daniel Cormier," White said. "Not only mentally, but physically he just went through a camp and financially, this pay-per-view is trending to be massive and he shares in that revenue. It's devastating to him in every way it could possibly be."
Cormier said he still would like to fight on the UFC 200 card and would be willing to bump up to 220 or 225 pounds for a potential opponent. UFC matchmaker Joe Silva was on a flight at the time the news of Jones' drug test was released, but after landing he messaged White and said fighters already are offering to step up to face Cormier on short notice.
Whether any of those offers will be accepted won't be decided until later.
White also stated that at the time he made the announcement, neither Lesnar nor Hunt had been notified about the news, but the UFC president said he'd let them know as soon as possible that they are now the main event for UFC 200.