Daniel Cormier training partner Luke Rockhold reacts to Jon Jones’ failed drug test

When it was announced that Jon Jones had failed a drug test administered on the eve his of UFC 214 knockout of Daniel Cormier, it called his win into question. When Jon Jones’ B sample came back and confirmed he’d indeed ingested the banned substance Turinabol, it sucked the legitimacy out of his win – at least in the eyes of the sanctioning California State Athletic Commission.

Shortly after the results of Jones’ B sample were released, the CSAC overturned his win over Cormier, rendering it a no-contest. From there, the UFC reinstated the former champ Cormier as the reigning champion.

In the eyes of Luke Rockhold, the former UFC middleweight champion and a long-time friend and training partner of Cormier, this was the right move. Rockhold reacted to the news in an interview with TMZ.

“I feel for Daniel, obviously,” Rockhold said. “It’s not something you want to get too excited about, and happy. It’s just a sad day in the sport. I wish the best for Jon’s family. It’s not something I’m really too interested in right now. I’m more focused on what’s ahead of me this week.”

“Daniel Cormier,” Rockhold continued, when asked who should be champion in the division. “He hasn’t lost to anybody other than Jon Jones, and he’s been cheating his way through both fights. So Cormier is the champion. And realistically, people can deny, and be in denial about Jon taking things, but he’s taken things all along the way. That’s what USADA is here for, to clean up the cheaters. It’s unfortunate for the guy, he’s a very talented guy, and he’s ruined himself.”

Luke Rockhold battles former two-division World Series of Fighting champ David Branch in the main event of UFC Pittsburgh this weekend.

What do you think of his assessment of the Jon Jones – Daniel Cormier situation?

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 9/13/2017.