Jon Jones hits back at fans with 'steroids' jibe after showing off jacked new physique ahead of comeback fight against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309
10/04/2024 10:21 AM
Jon Jones has laughed off fans’ suspicions that he may have unnaturally achieved his new ripped physique.
The legendary two-weight world champion will defend his heavyweight belt for the first time at UFC 309 in Madison Square Garden next month. He faces fellow legend Stipe Miocic at the showcase, after almost two years out of action following a pectoral tear that forced him out of their first planned bout.
Jones infamously looked to have piled on the pounds before his heavyweight debut last year against Ciryl Gane in pre-fight photos released during the week of their bout at UFC 285. He tipped the scales 43lb heavier than his previous 205lb light-heavyweight limit, but still won within minutes.
Jon Jones shows off impressive heavyweight physique in new Instagram post
Last night, Jon Jones took to Instagram stories to show off a photo of his physique as he heads into his first world heavyweight title defence. The Hall of Fame star famously spent three years bulking up between his final light-heavyweight defence and winning the heavyweight belt last year.
Many fans were critical of his body in initial promotional pictures for UFC 285, but he showed up in tremendous shape and made short work of Gane to take the vacant belt. But he seems to have levelled up even further for his next outing, showing off a toned six-pack to his followers.
Many viewers were impressed, with one writing: “Damn! Jones looking lean and mean, instead of fat and funky!” Another added that Jones “looks way better” than when he was ‘dirty bulking’ his way up to heavyweight previously.
However, there were many negative comments as well. A number of social media users noted that now UFC drug testing protocol has been changed, he returns in fantastic shape; implying that he had done so unnaturally.
There appears to be no basis for any current rumours that he may be on performance enhancing drugs. Jones has been randomly tested four times this year, with all results coming back negative.
Jon Jones hits back at critics of his six pack ahead of UFC 309 return
Jones, who clearly takes time to read his social media replies, took to X to give his reply to some of his critics after sharing his photo. The two-weight UFC champion noted how silly it was that before he uploaded the photo he was being made fun of for how he looked.
“They were just calling me fat,” Jones wrote to his 2.9million followers on X, formerly Twitter. “Now I'm on steroids. I love it.” He also made reference to a fictional substance he claimed to be ingesting, adding: “I've been secretly taking PHW.”
Many fans responded to Jones sarcastically noting that it was comical to suggest he would be taking steroids. He has history with failed drug tests, infamously failing a number for different substances over the years.
He first tested positive for estrogen blockers clomiphene and letrozole ahead of his planned UFC 200 rematch with Daniel Cormier. When the pair finally did get to fight again at UFC 214, he landed a vicious knockout which was overturned to a No Contest when he tested positive for turinabol.
Jon Jones claimed new drug testing rules vindicated him over previous tests
Ahead of his fight with Gane last year, Jones noted that a 2019 change to USADA testing rules vindicated him over previous tests. He claimed that had the new rule, which raised the threshold for prohibited substances to 100 picograms, would have meant no positive tests had it been applied in his case.
"USADA has changed some of the rules regarding picograms and what's allowed,” he told media ahead of UFC 285. “And I've come to find out that all my findings are all under the new legal limit, meaning that I would've been cleared from every test that I've ever taken, and that means a lot to me.
"If that same rule would've applied back then, it would've never made the media. It would have never been a big deal at all. My win over Daniel Cormier wouldn't be a no contest. It would be a knockout; a KO victory.
"So, I'm hoping that with these rule changes, we could go back and make that no contest a win. That would mean a lot to me. I don't have any ill will towards USADA. It's just something we needed to go through.
“I was the first one, and one of the biggest names to go through it, and I'm glad I did because some of these younger fighters wouldn't have been able to survive something like that. They would've just been cut or not been able to afford the lawyers or whatever.
“So I took the bullet for this sport and Major League Baseball. I'm glad fighters in the future will get to avoid what I went through. It was hell being considered a steroid cheat. I'm glad that people get to see clearly that I never was. I feel set free."
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