Anderson Silva To Replace Jon Jones In Saturday Fight

Doping is a big no no in pro sports and the UFC just reiterated this by booting Jon Jones from Saturday’s big fight.

Jones may be considered the greatest MMA fighter in history, but he’s also one of the most controversial.

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency had informed Jon Jones of a potential anti-doping policy violation stemming from an out-of-competition sample collection on June 16.

Though the UFC did not announce what Jones tested positive for, he could face a two-year sanction if found guilty of the violation.

It has to be a performance-enhancing drug that is on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s prohibited list. This is because drugs of abuse like cocaine are only banned in the 24 hours prior to competition. Jones had tested positive for cocaine before the UFC 182 on January 3rd last year, but he was able to fight as the positive came more than 24 hours before the event.

Jones even admitted he took a supplement, and it was something he couldn’t even pronounce. He said he would never intentionally cheat and that God has a plan for everybody. He apologized to Dana White, to the UFC, and to Daniel Cormier.

Jones was scheduled to fight Cormier at UFC 200 this Saturday night, but has been replaced by Anderson Silva. He called UFC President Dana White immediately after news broke about Jones and offered his services.

Silva commented, “I’ve had a great UFC career and no one has been able to beat everything I’ve done. I don’t think anyone’s going to be able to do what I’ve done and I’m happy to come in here and face a guy like Daniel Cormier.”

Silva will face Cormier in a three-round non-title bout in the light heavyweight division on the main card. It will air following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

“I think I’m in good shape and I don’t want Daniel to thing I’m underestimating him or coming in here to try to challenge the champion,” Silva told reporters in a news conference following the announcement he would fight Cormier.

“I don’t want to do that. I’m here to challenge myself. I think I haven’t trained in a few months, so now I have to go out there and put on a good fight.