Jon Jones Belittles Female Reporter Over Drug Testing Question

Jon Jones disparaged a reporter who dared to ask him about his positive drug test. On Thursday, the UFC held a press conference where Jones was questioned about the trace amounts of Turbinol found in his system. The finding wasn’t enough to warrant a suspension, but it did spark the Nevada Athletic Commission to decline sanctioning the fight. As a result, UFC 232 moved from Las Vegas to California at the last minute.

“Next question, please. Thank you,” Jones responded before smirking at UFC president Dana White. When the reporter switched up her line of questioning for White, she was heckled by Jon, who told her to “sit down” and demanded “better questions.” The thing is, it’s a good question. Why did the UFC overlook a drug test which found the same steroid in his system that resulted in a 15-month suspension, and then go out of their way to move the event to Inglewood because the California State Athletic Commission was still willing to sanction the fight? 

The better question may be why is the UFC consistently willing to move the goalposts for Jones? The answer is because he’s a great fighter and a huge draw when drugs don’t get in the way of his ability to legally compete. From the moment Jon accepted his suspension for a positive drug test, he should’ve known that questions surrounding the issue were going to plague the rest of his career. 

Jones ended up providing ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, a male reporter, with a response to similar question. “I think my trying to prove any type of innocence is going to be virtually impossible before the fight, because of the controversial image I have,” he said. “People are kind of set in what they’re going to believe. I can’t win over many minds before the fight.” Is it that Jones doesn’t like it when a female reporter, who isn’t afraid to ask the tough questions, puts his feet to the fire?