Jon Jones
IN PHOTO: Apr 26, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Jon Jones puts his arms in the air after the UFC light heavy weight championship fight against Glover Texeira at Baltimore Arena. Jones retained the light heavy weight championship by defeating Teixeria. Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White finally addressed the controversy on why prized fighter and UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones just stayed 24 hours in a drug rehabilitation clinic after he was announced to have voluntarily submitted himself for treatment. Jones’ random test in Dec. 4 yielded positive for cocaine metabolites just a few weeks prior to his title match against Daniel Cormier.

White went to the Jim Rome Show to discuss the issue and some other things pertinent to Jones, including his next title fight. The mercurial promoter relayed that the experts in the facility evaluated his ward for 24 hours and declared that Jones was not an addict. Since the admission was voluntary, the 27-year-old champion discharged himself to watch his brothers play in the NFLs’ AFC title match in Boston.

Despite the pronouncement, White declared that there must be an underlying problem with Jones and that there is some cause for concern. He added that Jones is already in the process of ascertaining the root of the issue and is undergoing treatment.

“But my thing was, if you're doing that four weeks before the biggest fight of your life, there's some type of problem there. There's something wrong. He's doing out-patient counseling now. He's talking to counselors,” White told Jim Rome (as transcribed by Yahoo Sports).

Despite all the non-Octagon distractions, White still has a lot of faith in Jones and is even booking him to his second title defence this year after having just one in all of 2014. The UFC President relayed last Wednesday that Jones will defend his title next against Anthony “Rumble” Johnson in May. With no other big fights slated for May 23th or Memorial Day weekend, it is possible tha UFC 187 or Jones versus Johnson will be slotted in that date.

Johnson surprised the mixed martial arts world by stunning Alexander Gustafsson during UFC Fight Night in Stockholm, Sweden. Johnson stunned the lengthy Swedish fighter with a right hook after he evaded a right leg kick right off the first round’s bell. From there on, it was a machine gun of punches that ended when Johnson repeatedly unleashed a series of uppercuts that knocked back the head of Gustafsson. Las Vegas betting odds have already picked up on the potential fight between Jones and Johnson and have already opened the books with Jones at an overwhelming favourite at -315 to Johnson’s +235.

For concerns on this article, contact the writer at v.hidalgo@ibtimes.com.au.

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