Jon Jones: “I was a drug addict”

It’s no secret that UFC pound for pound kingpin Jon Jones has battled with addiction. ‘Bones’ tested positive for cocaine prior to UFC 178, and then checked himself in to rehab after his hit-and-run incident in April of 2015. Before Jones was even re-instated by the UFC, he moved to Albuquerque New Mexico to train full time and live a healthier lifestyle.

Jones spent a day with USA Today Sports back in March after it was announced that he would fight Ovince Saint Preux for the interim light heavyweight championship at UFC 197, rather than have a rematch with Daniel Cormier for the UFC light heavyweight championship.

“I was a drug addict.”

“One thing people don’t realize is that you can be a drug addict even if you are a stoner. If you are waking up every day and smoking, smoking before you eat, smoking before you train, smoke before you sleep, smoking before you watch a movie, smoking before your study session, you are an addict. It doesn’t have to be a hard drug to be an addict.”

Despite the negative things Jones has gone through, he has found a way to look at the positive.

“I feel like I am having a come-to-Jesus moment right now,” he adds. “This is real stuff, and I feel so free talking about it now. A rough beginning doesn’t have to mean there is a rough end. I’m ready to be the best me I can be.”