FRIDAY NEWS DIGEST 1/25: Gustafsson and Coker sound off on Jon Jones test results, Conor McGregor ready to ‘party’ with Cowboy Cerrone, and much more

By Michael Hiscoe, Managing Editor

Alexander Gustafsson (photo credit Troy Taormina © USA Today Sports)

‘Absolute mess’

It turns out people in mixed martial arts have an opinion on Jon Jones and his recent history of on-again and off-again drug test results. Through his manager, Nima Safapour, Jones’ most recent opponent, Alexander Gustafsson has released a statement commenting on Jones’ most recent result which showed the metabolite for Turinabol. Jones failed for Turinabol in a July 2017 test, was suspended for 15 months and returned to the cage in December, winning a third-round TKO over Gustafsson.

Before the fight, Gustafsson had said that Jones could be on “rocket fuel” for all he cared, but the latest results have made his management very upset.

The statement in full (via MMAFigting):

“The inconclusive and inconsistent results that are repeatedly occurring with Jon Jones, at the very least, should compel our industry to have a greater, deeper, and more impartial discussion about the legitimacy of Jon’s defense. Jon has gone out publicly boasting when some of his results come back negative. However, he remains silent when his test results come back positive. You can not have it both ways and cherry-pick the results that are favorable for you, and insist that we disregard the results that go against your interests.

“Jon has essentially received a use exemption on a strict liability violation. The science is not certain on the defense he has taken. Furthermore, science is always in a state of change. So the science we rely on today is different than the science we relied on from just a few years ago. It will probably change again going forward. Jones is also creating a precedent that will go beyond his personal interests in the sense that now other fighters will also seek use exemptions on a strict liability violation based on an issue that the science community is still divided on. It’s an absolute mess.”

Coker weighs in

Bellator president Scott Coker is also not impressed with how the UFC and the California State Athletic Commission have handled the Jones situation. Speaking to media ahead of Bellator 214 this weekend, Coker said that the case has been mishandled and that Jones should be sanctioned regardless of how or when the banned substance entered his system.

“From a company standpoint, I think it’s very disappointing,” Coker told reporters (via MMAJunkie). “You go out there, and you put your reputation on the line for health and safety and all the weight-cutting things.

“We’ve always supported the commission and will continue to support the commission. But listen, if a fighter has (performance-enhancing drugs) in him, he’s got PEDs in him. That’s how I feel.”

Coker went on to add that through his long history of promoting events in California, that he’s been happy with the job the commission has done but they’ve dropped the ball with this one.

“I don’t think that was the right call and that was (Andy Foster’s) call to make. And, really, the commission for 32 years, I’ve been with the California state commission, I think this is one of the few times I’ve said, ‘Hey, this is not right.’ We’ll see what happens with that.”

Bellator 214 takes place Saturday night from The Forum in Los Angeles, the same venue as UFC 232.

Let’s Party

The social media build to the unannounced but seemingly ineveitable fight between Conor McGregor and Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone continues. In an Instagam post Thursday, Cerrone posted a photo of he and McGregor with the caption, “Don’t worry (McGregor), I’ll drink Proper Twelve Whiskey at the press conference with ya!”

Anyone who follows McGregor on Twitter lately knows that he’ll like, comment, or retweet as many mentions of his Proper Twelve Whiskey as possible, and as expected, he bit at Cerrone’s post.

“Sounds like a party!” McGregor responded.

Now all we need is a date for the two to party in the cage.

Friday Notebook

-Chris Weidman underwent “unexpected” neck surgery this week. He shared a look to his Instagram story of his post-op scars. “Kind of an unexpected neck surgery yesterday,” Weidman wrote. “I’ll explain soon, but I’m all good, and I’ll be healthy soon.”

-Jessica Eye told MMAJunkie Radio that she plans to change fight camps ahead of her expected flyweight championship match with Valentina Shevchenko. “I decided to part with Strong Style and open my own gym with a friend,” Eye said. “It’s been really cool. It’s been really excited. I’m kind of stepping away from everything and trying new things and I’ve found it to be really successful.”

-Bellator commentator and former long-time referee John McCarthy said that he felt the Henry Cejduo-TJ Dillashaw fight was stopped early. 

-Conor McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Jon Jones are all scheduled for hearings with the Nevada Athletic Commission on Tuesday, Jan. 29.

-Lando Vannata vs. Marcos Mariano is booked for UFC 234 on Feb. 9 from Melbourne.

-Damir Hadzovic vs. Marco Polo Reyes is set for UFC Prague on Feb. 23.

In case you missed it

‘I’m a jab guy now, not a job guy’: Jake Hager ready to move on from pro-wrestling losses to MMA wins

ROUNDTABLE: How would you grade UFC’s debut on ESPN?

 

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