Well... That was something.
All eyes were on the MGM Grand as Jon Jones took the decision to face the media fresh in the face of the news that has rocked the MMA world.
Jon Jones is out of UFC 200, and Brock Lesnar v Mark Hunt will be the new main event. We had heard from Dana White and Daniel Cormier, both of whom were bemused and disappointed, but then came the time to hear from the man himself.
Jones deserves some credit for facing the media at all, it would have been far easier, and expected, for him to return home and hide under his duvet cover, but that is about where the credit for Jones ended. He denied the allegations, claiming that he did not knowingly take any banned substance, and offered an apology to Daniel Cormier.
You can watch the interview in full here, but the reaction split opinion across social media.
I feel for Jon Jones is it truly was an oversight that cost him this fight. "PEDs" to USADA don't necessarily have to be steroids.
— Shane Alexander (@Alexander1Great) July 7, 2016
That Jon Jones presser was quite something. Sure, it's sad but it's hard to feel pity when he was clearly spinning the wheel on supplements.
— Joe Callaghan (@JoeCallaghan84) July 7, 2016
What I felt like I got from that Jon Jones presser #UFC200 pic.twitter.com/YmIhPxBd9y
— The MMA Bible (@TheMMABible) July 7, 2016
Make Jon Jones Brock Lesnar's Summerslam opponent.
— Sean Ross Sapp (@SeanRossSapp) July 7, 2016
Can't say I feel bad one little bit about Jon Jones. Just another chapter in his mess of a life lately.
— Mike McPhee (@ManCaveMMA) July 7, 2016
Jon Jones: "I believe something good will come of this."
*Michael Jordan's cryface has officially been replaced* pic.twitter.com/sHTTp0JVMh— Mike Solano (@Solano66) July 7, 2016
Jon Jones has a problem. Even if he didn't take something, dishonesty and shirking responsibility are consistent w/ past behaviour.
— Laura Kennedy (@LooraKennedy) July 7, 2016
jon jones crying face the new meme of the decade
— ⬇↘➡+✊ (@oftsio) July 7, 2016
I'm a huge UFC Fan an disappointed in JBJ! You have to commend @danawhite for pulling it fight cos the event is HUGE!https://t.co/Pm1bdburDp
— Tony Bellew (@TonyBellew) July 7, 2016
Lots of confused and amused people, and some hate. How's yours? https://t.co/ndVwEQ2uXI
— Jon Jones (@jonjones) July 7, 2016
Jon Jones' PR person in gif form pic.twitter.com/DU0IDHs2Yk
— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) July 7, 2016
Damn I thought I messed up my career with my bad decisions whole you know how much mone... https://t.co/xI1MH0BFiF pic.twitter.com/Nd8DgP8lx5
— Chris Leben (@ChrisLebenMMA) July 7, 2016
Jones: if I'm out for two years, maybe this is something I needed for my development as a person.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) July 7, 2016
Jon Jones says we all get tested in life, it's kinda therapeutic being up there and crying. But this won't break him ... aka his sobriety
— Brian Martin (@TheBMartin) July 7, 2016
Jon Jones is a druggie and a fucking cheat. So many chances, so much hype, so much support, he has to be sacked. End of.
— Joe Snee (@joe_snee) July 7, 2016
I feel very bad for Jon Jones for being pulled out of #UFC200 , I believe him and think he is clean! Hopefully he can prove his innocence!!
— cody west (@West_Cide) July 7, 2016
#ooc Dammit Jon Jones. Just dammit.
— R-Kia (@ArkiaFiskJones) July 7, 2016
A leopard can't change its spots Jon Jones has done it before and will do it again really disappointing #UFC200 #jonjones
— Jordan Richardson (@J9Richardson) July 7, 2016
I hope Jon Jones sample comes back clean after it is retested and everybody who is talking shit can shut up.
— Adri. (@AdriannaLovee) July 7, 2016
