Chael Sonnen Rips Jon Jones for Defending Substance Usage During MMA career

Chael Sonnen had some harsh words for Jon Jones after the latter reacted to being snubbed of UFC Mount Rushmore due to steroid use.

Chael Sonnen Rips Jon Jones for Defending Substance Usage During MMA career

Chael Sonnen rips Jon Jones due to steroid history (via Combat Press, Bloody Elbow)

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There have been many instances of athletes being caught abusing steroids at the prime of their careers. However, in the UFC, former double champ Jon Jones is one name that immediately comes to mind when steroid use is mentioned. There is no doubt that ‘Bones’ has defended his legacy and record inside the cage multiple times. However, there will always be an asterisk mark when people talk about who was the best MMA fighter in history.

This was the case with his former arch-nemesis, Daniel Cormier, who left him and Anderson Silva off his Mount Rushmore of MMA fighters. Instead, he placed Demetrious Johnson, Georges St-Pierre, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and Chuck Liddell/Randy Couture on his list. This attracted a sharp reply from Jones on his social media, where he targeted DC for feeling inferior and argued that his list of accomplishments should not be dwarfed by his substance abuse issues.

However, former UFC fighter and fan favorite Chael Sonnen had some harsh words for Jones’ comments. ‘The Bad Guy’ spoke about Jones’ logic on the Good Guy/Bad Guy show that he co-hosts with Cormier.

Everybody goes down that road where they cheat the rules ’cause they somewhere had the insecurity. They somewhere wanted an edge and then they come back, go ‘But I could have done it anyway.’ Well, maybe you didn’t think you could. If you thought you could, you would’ve not put a synthetic chemical substance into your a*s.

Chael Sonnen via Good Guy/Bad Guy podcast

Sonnen, who once faced Jones for the 205lbs title, went all out at the former champion and reminded him of the constant denial. He believed that Jones would have been able to achieve all that he had without using steroids. However, he wasted no time in reminding Jones that it was his choice to use the illegal chemical substances.

Jon really gets upset about that. He doesn’t deny the hit-and-runs. He doesn’t deny the cocaine allegations. That’s the one that bothers him, the picogram and the couple of failed tests. I do believe Jon could’ve been champ of the world without steroids, but somewhere within him, at some point, he doubted that, and that’s the life he chose.

Chael Sonnen via Good Guy/Bad Guy podcast

However, Sonnen also pointed out that the steroid use is not the only controversy that haunts the former champion in a rather dispute-filled career. Jones has always maintained an active social media presence and uses it as a way to connect with fans while providing updates and continuous back-and-forths with fighters or fans.

Many fans had urged him to fight the former interim heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall, to unify the belts. Moreover, analysts have also called him out for allegedly ducking Francis Ngannou the same way he did with Aspinall before his ultimate departure from the company in January 2023. But at the end, Jones replied to fans and prolonged the plans before finally announcing his retirement.

Despite the sudden announcement, Jones announced that he had re-entered the testing pool shortly after leaving the sport to compete at the UFC White House event next year. For the unversed, Jones had tested positive for steroids after his rematch with DC at UFC 214.

He defeated Cormier and knocked him out with a vicious kick. However, the fight was ultimately ruled as a no-contest due to ‘Bones’ testing positive for an anabolic steroid known as Turinabol. Ever since then, there has been a lingering question mark around Jones’ GOAT status.

Daniel Cormier discusses Jon Jones’ comments with Chael Sonnen

It is safe to say that there was a lot of animosity between Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones during their rivalry. However, there have been a few moments of respect between the two, mainly from Cormier’s side. DC recently spoke out on how Jones has always noticed criticism rather than words of praise.

Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen discuss Jon Jones
Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen discuss Jon Jones (via MMA Fighting, CNN)

While speaking to Sonnen, DC revealed that he has talked about Jones multiple times in interviews and podcasts regarding him as the “best and toughest fighter” that he has ever faced. However, Cormier revealed that Jones always tried to get into trash talk and insults, and undermined any words of praise or props given.

I give him credit, he is so weird, he is such a weird guy. If I talk about him, this was 20 minutes bro of me talking about him and polishing him up, telling all the great things he has done in the Octagon. It is the negative thing that he latches onto because that’s what he wants to do. In reality, I was very fair. I don’t have to be fair to Jon Jones.

Daniel Cormier via Good Guy/Bad Guy podcast

The two also spoke about how Jones’ accolades were not as impressive as Cormier’s, who also had the same accolades. However, the duo further discussed that everyone was being tested during that period, and Jones was caught fair and square. Sonnen further revealed that Jones’ fan base influenced his attitude to take the steroid issue lightly.

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