Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones today demurred on an explanation of why he chose not to enroll with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) in advance of UFC 232.

Jones initially noted he was advised not to talk about the situation, then added: “It’s all a pretty new conversation. It’s something I haven’t been putting too much energy into. Every ounce of my mind, body and spirit has been dominated with this next fight.

“I don’t want to speak out of turn when it comes to these companies,” Jones said. “These companies are pretty serious companies, and I want to get my mind around the whole situation before speaking more on it.”

Before granting Jones a temporary fight license that cleared the way for UFC 232, the California State Athletic Commission offered to pay for the ex-champ’s enrollment in VADA, suggesting it would improve his reputation after multiple drug test failures. Jones appeared open to the idea, though his attorney Howard Jacobs said he wanted to review the commission’s proposal before making any final decisions.

On Monday, Jacobs said there were some issues with the commission’s proposal, which called to test the ex-champ only for performance-enhancers. He did not elaborate on the issues.

Jones indicated he’ll do so after the fight, which takes place Dec. 29 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. In the meantime, he’ll still be subject to testing by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which regulates UFC 232.

And while Jones said his entire focus is on finishing Alexander Gustafsson (18-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC), with whom he went the distance in a knuckle-biter in 2013, his vision isn’t tunneled enough to miss attacks from his bitter rival Daniel Cormier, who seized his belt after a knockout loss at UFC 214 was invalidated by a positive drug test for a steroid metabolite.

Jones welcomed Cormier as his first title defense after the current champ took aim at his defense to the UFC 214 positive, casting suspicion on his statement that the amount of metabolites found in his system were the equivalent of a “pinch of salt in an Olympic-size pool.”

“You win the fight, go ahead and win the fight, but don’t leave anything to question is my response,” Cormier said. “Don’t have a pinch of salt. Don’t have tainted sex pills. Just don’t have that stuff and then we never have these discussions to discredit the things that you have done.”

On Twitter, Jones fired back at Cormier, calling his current status as a two-division champ “a freaking joke” and challenging him to a third fight with a $100,000 donation going to charity if he accepts.

“Conor McGregor was an actual double champ,” Jones wrote. “The whole world knows your claim is a freaking joke.”

Today, Jones explained his reaction simply as a move in his defense after hearing Cormier and other antagonists talk about his troubles outside the cage.

“The sitting down and quiet days are over,” he said. “Daniel Cormier opened his mouth about me. He wants to sell to the people that steroids had something to do with my success. That’s the narrative he wants to get out there, and I want to nip it in the bud. So I challenged Daniel Cormier to be my first title defense, and let’s see what he does.

“I don’t think he’s responded yet, and I think everybody knows he doesn’t want to fight me a third time. I’m not out to get Daniel Cormier. I’m just protecting myself. The guy’s out there making comments about me, and I’m just responding.”

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