EXCLUSIVE | Jimi Manuwa discusses Jon Jones situation, suggests serious punishment if he’s found guilty

Shortly after Jon Jones knocked out Daniel Cormier to re-capture the UFC light heavyweight title, it was announced that he’d tested positive for turinabol in a pre-fight drug test. With this disappointing turn of events, Jones’ knockout win was overturned, and the light heavyweight strap was returned to Cormier.

At present, Jones is undergoing his due process, as the facts are weighed and the evidence is considered. Whatever happens, however, many fans, pundits and fellow fighters are now unsure what to make of Jones and his incredible, greatest-of-all-time level success. File fourth-ranked UFC light heavyweight contender Jimi Manuwa into that group.

“I don’t know man, it’s all grey isn’t it? It’s all grey around Jon Jones right now,” Manuwa said on the latest episode of BJ Penn Radio. “Well look, I gave him a green light after his last drugs things, you know? A clean, fresh start, he came, he beat DC spectacularly, and now he’s tested positive again. So like, what the fuck, man? So I don’t know what’s going on with him, you know? If it definitely is steroids, I think he should be banned for life. I think anyone takes steroids and performance enhancing drugs should be banned for life.”

“That just shows the type of person you have [in a steroid user],” he continued. “If you feel … Not even if you feel, if you use steroids illegally in combat sports, it just shows the type of person you are. You’re a cheater and you’re no good. You’re scum, and that. So you know, they don’t belong in MMA.”

While Jimi Manuwa clearly has no patience for steroid use in MMA, he is also keen to withhold judgement until the verdict is on Jones. For now, he still considers Jon Jones an absolute great of MMA, though that could change if he’s proven guilty.

“It’s yet to be proven with Jon Jones, so we’ll just have to wait and see what the results are and that,” Manuwa said. “Jon Jones is the best fighter, hand down, by the way.”

“But if he’s using steroids, then he doesn’t count. He’s removed from the list.”

What do you think of Jimi Manuwa’s take on Jon Jones?

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 14/12/2017.