Jon Jones Pulled from UFC 200: What Happens Now?

You know what.

Let's not even start with the pound for pound number one, because it is clear to many that not only does he not deserve that title anymore, but he doesn't deserve to be the focal point of discussion. Let's start with Daniel Cormier.

It goes without saying that there is not one male or female competitor within the UFC to this current day that can fully empathise with Cormier in this tragic moment. A feud in which DC truly, wholeheartedly believed he could lay his marker down on, is now out of the picture, and there is nothing Cormier can do about it.

Devastating is an understatement.

Back in April, Cormier was left shell-shocked that he (not Jones) was the one being booed at the UFC 200 Press Conference in Madison Square Garden. But, no-one really raised any eyebrows. We all knew the deal. Fans were sceptical about DC's belt because it was "not solidified" until he beat the champ who never lost the belt, Jones.

Fans who booed Cormier, have to now look back now in embarrassment. You boo a man who has never violated any form of drug testing, has never got himself in any trouble outside the octagon, and has never been defeated in the UFC by any man bar Jon Jones.

On the flip side of the coin, we come to the man of the hour. "Sexual Chocolate" "Bones" "JBJ" whatever you want to call him, for Jon Jones it is just another case of two steps forward, one step back.

A distraught Daniel Cormier addresses the media today
Credit: MMAFightingonSBN

Cormier had it all written out on the table. He predicted this drama would unfold yet again on countless occasions, but no-one really spared him any second look. "Mistakes, mistakes, you don't constantly make mistakes" Cormier said speaking on UFC Counterpunch last week. 

"Many times we've heard this speech. Why am I supposed to believe this guy?" Well DC, us UFC fans (at least myself for that sake) now repeat this question to ourselves when thinking about Jones. Too many times now, Jones has bit off more than he can chew. And if Jones stated that his hit-and-run incident last September left him at 'rock bottom', where he is going to be now? Bedrock? Please, spare me the excuses.

However, I'd be lying if I said my thoughts on Jones mimicked DC's. Cool calm and collected may be way to cliché, but seriously, Jones was almost in a 'state of zen' so to speak prior to this Saturday's fight. His laid back mannerisms at the press conferences won most of us over, and then boom. Just like that. It's gone, all gone.

The reason why no-one shared the same opinion as DC is because they didn't want to believe it. Why would fans want to think Jones will mess up again a few days prior to the biggest event UFC ever? Why would Dana or Lorenzo have any form of concern when everything was going smoothly and as planned? For Cormier, it was expected, but he just didn't know when it would occur.

I guess we now have our answer.