Jon Jones conducted an interview with Charissa Thompson of Fox Sports Live which aired Monday night to explain himself about failing a December 4th drug test. The interview attempts to provide some answers about Jones and the reasons why he tested positive for cocaine.
Jones stated he “messed up” when asked about why he would do cocaine so close to his big fight against Daniel Cormier at UFC 182.
Jones also explains why his stint in drug rehab only lasted a night. Jones stated that doctors evaluated him and determined that he could be treated on an “outpatient” basis which meant he did not have to stay in the facility.
Payout Perspective:
Essentially the interview is a form of damage control for the UFC and Fox as it tries to form the narrative for Jones in the days to come. Obviously cocaine use is not what you want from your top star. It’s clear that the UFC needs him and wants him active since he was only fined $25,000 for violation of the company’s code of conduct and not also suspended or stripped of his light heavyweight title. Thompson was likely picked to do the interview over another Fox Sports personality because she adds a professional, yet softer tone than others.
These types of “mea culpa” interviews attempt to paint the individual in a positive light. The interview made Jones look serious, contrite and as someone that was sorry for his actions. Did the interview make Jones seem more like he made an honest mistake?
A point in the interview Jones states he did not know if the drug test results found him positive for cocaine use when he was at UFC 182 weigh-ins. Its also interesting that Jones never attempted to withdraw from the fight after he was told by Dana White that he had failed the December 4th drug test.
It is interesting that he is positive that he is not addicted to cocaine, yet made the decision to do it, knowing he would have to take a drug test for his fight at UFC 182. Even if he did not believe he would be tested for narcotics, you would think Jones would have to be concerned with the possibility that it could show up. So, why would a professional athlete that only used cocaine recreationally in college do it now?
One of the underlying issues to keep an eye on in the future is whether Jones will seek any legal action for the release of the test results. He was noncommittal about this during the interview.
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2015/1/21/7865169/forbes-blasts-ufc-conor-mcgregor-muhammad-ali.
GOOD article on the dw hype mma bubble…and putting the ufc in its place hahahahaha more and more people like forbes writer are now looking at facts and numbers to refute dw hype machine….its about time
Who cares what a lying coke head ped user says!
That Forbes article was written by one of the dinosaurs who is still calling mma barbaric.
Did you notice the numbers he provided about tv contracts being better than mma did not include boxing. Hahaha.
Article is wack but d tries to hard to spin everything shit is weak and see thru . Tops pink pig shit is lame
MMAFAG, you may want to get rid of all of that gay energy, you are alarming the children who are on here.
Coming from the guy who talks about bob arums cock all the time you closet queer you have more gay references than anyone on here LMAO d is prolly into Drag
MMAFAG, please stop with all of the homosexual obsessing. We know you are gay. Please stop. You are scaring the children here. We don’t want to know what you are doing with your boyfriend or what your two dads are up to.