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Nevermind that Jon Jones remains provisionally suspended by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and hasn’t fought in 10 months, he’s the UFC light heavyweight champion.
At least that’s what he believes.
In response to a fan today on Twitter, Jones made it clear that he doesn’t need a physical belt in his possession to know he is still the king of the UFC’s 205-pound division (via Twitter).
@JonnyBones the belt will always be yours homie!
— Juguito J (@JugositoJ) May 30, 2018
@JonnyBones the belt will always be yours homie!
Thanks brother, yeah I know I don’t need to hold that belt to be the champion. Sure the whole top five knows that too https://t.co/6UfzdcX0Nr
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) May 30, 2018
Thanks brother, yeah I know I don’t need to hold that belt to be the champion. Sure the whole top five knows that too
Moments later, as a follow-up to that response, Jones (21-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) expanded on his belief in a separate tweet that has since been deleted.
“I don’t need the physical belt or even to be in the rankings to know that I am the champion. It’s something I feel in my heart, I know what I’ve done. I know what I’m going to do”
Jones, 30, knocked out rival Daniel Cormier (20-1, 9-1) last July at UFC 214 to claim the undisputed title for the second time. The result, however, was later overturned to a no-contest – and Cormier reinstated as champion – after Jones tested positive for metabolites of the banned steroid turinabol, marking the second failed USADA test of his career. Jones’ title fight with Cormier was his comeback from a one-year suspension for a July 2016 failed test that Jones claimed was the result of a contaminated sexual-performance pill.
In February, Jones was fined $205,000 and had his license revoked by the California State Athletic Commission, which regulated UFC 214 from Honda Center in Anaheim. He hast yet to have his case heard by USADA.
Jones’ remarks are sure to not sit well with Cormier, 39, who has stated he wants a third fight with his arch-rival – and “that’ll never change.” Cormier already has defended his belt once since the Jones fight, finishing Volkan Oezdemir via second-round TKO in January at UFC 220.
Cormier’s next challenge is a big one as he’ll fight Stipe Miocic for the heavyweight title at UFC 226 in July.
That should’ve been Jones’ fight to take.
For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.
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