Morning Report: Jon Jones lights into Daniel Cormier over USADA criticism

Esther Lin, MMA Fighting

It’s safe to say, Jon Jones is all the way back.

Last week, Jones was finally handed down his suspension from USADA following his failed drug tests in relation with UFC 214: a reduced, 15-month suspension, retroactive to July of last year, meaning Jones is eligible to return to fighting this next month. That’s obviously great news for Jones but others were, perhaps, unhappy with USADA.

Earlier this week, UFC double champion, Daniel Cormier, who has previously commented on his dislike of the burden USADA imposes on his life, posted on social media his disdain for the drug-testing body.

Never one to miss an opportunity to lob shots at Cormier, Jones took to Instagram yesterday to respond to Cormier’s post, laying into his rival about their previous encounter and promising to “bury” Cormier a third time.

“You mad, Bro? USADA keeps calling but you’re not going to pick up the phone because the second you hear them say I’m innocent is the instant the illusion you’ve created shatters. Then it’s all real AGAIN and that’s not a step you’re willing to take. Instead you wrap yourself in your fake belt and keep telling yourself the shin that slammed into your face and the performance that buried you once again was enhanced. The fact you can’t beat me kills you and it stops you from picking up that phone. If you answer it then the nightmare becomes reality. Then again, maybe you do pick up, accept the truth that you were defeated by a superior fighter and that gives you peace. Or it goes another way and you get motivated to try a third time and that will save me the hassle of having to dig you up before I bury you. So now that the illusion you’ve built is crumbling and the “violation was not intended nor could it have enhanced the athlete’s performance” you still have to tell yourself something yeah? And while there was “absolutely no intention to use prohibited substances,” it was my intention to kick your ass once again. Mission accomplished. Pick up the phone #letstalkaboutit.”

Jones defeated Cormier by unanimous decision at UFC 182. When the rematched two years later, Jones was again victorious, this time by third-round knockout. That result was later overturned into a No Contest when it was revealed that Jones tested positive for a banned substance.

With Jones soon to be back, a third fight between the two seems inevitable, though perhaps not immediately so. Cormier is tentatively set to put his heavyweight belt on the line against Brock Lesnar in January and Jones is rumored to be rematching Alexander Gustafsson at the end of the year. Should both men emerge victorious, a trilogy bout between the two for Cormier’s retirement fight in March makes all the sense in the world. Of course, Cormier has previously said that he isno longer hung up on the idea of a third fight with Jones, but perhaps this latest salvo from “Bones” will change his mind.

Update: Cormier responds to “snitch” Jones in his own Instagram post.