Another Jon Jones controversy forces UFC 232 to move from Las Vegas to Los Angeles

Well, it wouldn’t be a Jon Jones fight week without something going wrong.

In a wild turn of events, the Nevada Athletic Commission will not allow Jones to fight at UFC 232 on Saturday, December 29th. This is due to a drug-testing abnormality. In the most basic description, Jones tested positive for traces of a drug found in his body back in 2017. As a result, the UFC will move the PPV from Las Vegas to California inside The Forum.

Jon Jones tested for a trace amount of the same metabolite that was found in his system in 2017. USADA has ruled the test was caused by a residual amount of the substance from 2017 and will not sanction Jones, but Nevada didn't feel it could license him. California will.

— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) December 23, 2018

The original failed test came after his Light Heavyweight Title fight against Daniel Cormier in which he won back the title he never lost. Cormier was later reinstated as the champion after the fact. Jones will have to come before a hearing in January, but with this new twist, he will still be able to fight Alexander Gustafsson for the Light Heavyweight Title.

The result of the drug test actually came weeks before, but the announcement was made very much after the fact. UFC VP Jeff Novitzy stated that the trace of the drug Turinabol was inside of Jones, but it was “the size of one-50 millionth of a grain of sand”, rendering the case obsolete.

USADA put out a statement regarding the situation, validating Jones as a clean fighter for the upcoming bout.

USADA Statement on Jon Jones Sample and UFC Anti-Doping Policy pic.twitter.com/TJfbJB5X9W

— USADA (@usantidoping) December 23, 2018

The CSAC just recently gave Jones his license back, while USADA was able to work out a deal with him. The deal indicates he would cooperate as an informant of sorts for the board. Jones recently rejected an offer to join VADA ( Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency) to further clear his name.

As a result, everything has changed, from ticket sales to fans having to find other accommodations to attend this event. Fighters and their family will also be affected, due to the tight schedule right before Christmas. There is also the matter of testing in a different state, taxes and everything else in between. Most fighters found out about the news via social media, a telling sign for a promotion like the UFC.

Information for those who have bought tickets for the event in Las Vegas will be revealed later this week. Right around the holidays, it appears Santa will be working overtime.