Coach Winkeljohn is Scared a 4-Year Suspension May End Jon Jones’ Career

The news rocked the MMA universe yesterday as Jon Jones’ B sample results were released, now everything seems all too real. There are multiple consequences that the now former UFC light heavyweight champion could face, but by far the worst is a suspension of four years. Daniel Cormier voiced his concern earlier that a four-year suspension would mean he’d never be able to challenge Jon Jones again. Coach Mike Winkeljohn recently appeared on Submission Radio to voice his concern about Jones fighting again if the max suspension is handed out.

“If it’s a four-year thing, I think it could be just that kind of devastation [that stops Jon from coming back]. Like I said, it’s not fair, you know? He messed up in that maybe he took something that someone said was fine, but he’s not doing it thinking, ‘I’m taking steroids or something,’ you know, and that’s the part that’s terrible. He’d be devastated at four years. Who knows, you know? That’s just a long time to just spiral downhill, where bad things can happen. So, that one scares me. If it’s a year [suspension] Jon Jones will come back and dominate the world again, I do believe.”

You gotta live with tomorrow despite how you're feeling today

— BONY (@JonnyBones) September 11, 2017

“Absolute terrible news, shock, there’s no way. Jon Jones had been tested multiple times going through the fight camp, he would not do something like that. The problem is the public perception. They think he’s got these needles and shoving steroids in his arms when – don’t get me wrong, I understand Jon has messed up in the past, he’s got caught drinking and driving, he done some bad things, he done things that are idiotic, but he’s grown up – but as far taking steroids, what he’s been busted for is, you know, taking a Viagra Cialis from Mexico that had something in it, that’s not steroids but it came up that way.”

Despite all of the test results being in, this Jon Jones situation is far from over. He’s still entitled to his due process in order to try and prove his innocence. As far as his future in combat sports, even the harshest of bands by the athletic commission – even lifetime bans – have always been reduced. After all the smoke clears, there is still hope that Jon Jones will compete again for the UFC.

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 9/14/2017.