5 reasons why the UFC should've pulled Jon Jones from UFC 232 and suspended him

Modified Dec 26, 2018 10:27 GMT

Jon Jones is once again in hot water following an unusual drug test result

#3 It’s unfair to the fighters and the Vegas fans

Undercard fighters like Corey Anderson have expressed their frustration with the move of UFC 232 to Los Angeles

Perhaps the biggest issue surrounding the move of UFC 232 from Las Vegas to Los Angeles is the ripple effect that it has on both the other fighters on the card and on the fans who planned to attend. Sure, it looks like any fans who bought tickets for the show in Vegas will be offered a full refund – and could then attempt to buy new tickets for the LA show – but is that really fair, particularly as the show takes place in the middle of the Christmas period?

And what of the other fighters on the show? Apparently, some of them only found out about the switch when the news emerged on the internet – which undercard fighter Megan Anderson has claimed on Twitter. Fellow undercard fighter Siyar Bahadurzada has claimed that this is understandable due to the nature of news and technology, but even so, this is a bad look for the UFC.

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Others like Corey Anderson, Brian Kelleher and Michael Chiesa have all aired their frustrations with the move. Not only this, California has a higher tax rate than Nevada – meaning the fighters will actually earn less money from the show. So should the UFC really be going to such lengths to protect one fighter – Jon Jones – who seemingly cannot keep himself out of trouble? The answer is no.

By suspending Jones and letting the show go on, the promotion would’ve sent a real anti-PED message. By doing what they’ve done, on the other hand, the message feels simpler; unless you’re a big star who draws money for the promotion, we don’t really care. And given the talks of the Ali Act and fighter unions, that isn’t a good message for the UFC to be sending right now.

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

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Edited by Nishant Jayaram