Jon Jones’ status as the greatest mixed martial artist of all time has sparked considerable debate within the MMA community, especially due to the Jon Jones PED violations controversy. During a recent episode of The Ariel Helwani Show broadcast from Las Vegas, former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson expressed doubts about Jones’ GOAT candidacy, emphasizing that performance-enhancing drug (PED) violations should exclude any athlete from such discussions.
Johnson acknowledged Jones’ athletic achievements but argued that true greatness requires a clean record. He compared Jones with legendary athletes in other sports who are widely regarded as the greatest but have never failed drug tests, underscoring the inconsistency in how Jones’ legacy is positioned.
You look at across the board, name one athlete that’s considered the greatest of all time in a sport that’s failed a drug test.
—Demetrious Johnson, Former UFC Flyweight Champion
Ariel Helwani’s Perspective: PED Issues Should Remove Jones From GOAT Debates
Journalist Ariel Helwani has been vocal in his criticism of Jon Jones and the UFC, particularly highlighting the impact of Jones’ PED violations. Helwani has also questioned organizational decisions that left contenders like Tom Aspinall waiting indefinitely for title shots, which he sees as unfair to the division’s progression.
In the same show featuring Johnson, Helwani stated firmly that Jones’ PED infractions should disqualify him from being considered the greatest in MMA history, linking his stance directly to the ongoing debate surrounding Jones’ legacy.
I said earlier this week, enough of this Jon Jones is the GOAT stuff. Enough of it, because if you have PED infractions, you’re out of the conversation.
—Ariel Helwani, MMA Journalist
Chronology of Jon Jones’ PED Violations During UFC Career
Jon Jones’ career has been punctuated by several PED-related controversies that complicate his claim to GOAT status.
In November 2016, after defeating Daniel Cormier to reclaim the light heavyweight title, Jones was stripped of the belt for violating the UFC’s Athlete Code of Conduct. He later returned at UFC 197 to defeat Ovince Saint Preux and secured the interim title. However, this reign was short-lived as Jones failed an out-of-competition drug test in June 2017, leading the UFC to cancel his highly anticipated rematch with Cormier at UFC 200.
In July 2017 at UFC 214, Jones’ victory over Cormier was overturned to a no-contest after the California State Athletic Commission discovered Turinabol—a banned anabolic steroid—in Jones’ pre-fight drug sample. Initially handed a four-year suspension, Jones’ penalty was reduced to 15 months after evidence suggested the positive test was caused by a contaminated supplement.
Jones’ issues continued in late 2018 when, before UFC 232, USADA detected trace amounts of Turinabol metabolites in Jones’ sample. These minuscule amounts were likened to
“a grain of sand in an Olympic-sized swimming pool”
and attributed to his prior infraction; nevertheless, the UFC relocated the event from Las Vegas to Los Angeles as a precaution.
In March 2019, prior to UFC 235 where Jones faced Anthony Smith, the Nevada State Athletic Commission flagged two of Jones’ five samples with adverse findings. Smith later discussed the situation, confirming that Jones failed drug tests during fight week. Despite the controversy, the match proceeded, with Jones winning by unanimous decision.
The Significance of PED Violations on Jon Jones’ Legacy
The recurring PED violations cast a lasting shadow over Jon Jones’ accomplishments and fuel ongoing disputes about his rightful place in MMA history. The implications reach beyond his personal record, affecting perceptions of the sport’s integrity and fairness towards other athletes.
As Demetrious Johnson and Ariel Helwani argue, ignoring these infractions undermines the legitimate comparisons with other athletes deemed the greatest in their fields, who have maintained clean records. The controversy could influence how future debates about MMA’s all-time greats unfold, potentially setting stricter standards regarding PED allegations and their impact on legacy.