For several Jon Jones has been the man to beat at light-heavyweight, but now that the former champion is facing a potential two year suspension from the sport due to a failed drug test, one of the divisions other major players, Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson says it’s time to move on and forget about the star.
To be fair, like everyone else, ‘Rumble’ was disappointed when he heard the news that Jones had been pulled from UFC 200 after testing positive for two estrogen blockers.
“When the UFC 200 stuff first happened, I was just in shock with everything,” Johnson told ESPN. “Maybe for a couple of days or a week or two, I was just extremely disappointed. I was like, ‘Damn, this is just really not gonna happen.’ I was looking forward to it just as much as anyone was. So, it does disappoint me.”
Johnson has come to terms with the fact that the pound-for-pound great is no longer in the picture though, and has come to the conclusion that it’s time to forget about him and shift his focus to other fighters in the division.
“It’s just not gonna happen — at this point, I know it’s not gonna happen,” Johnson said. “It is what it is. I’m moving forward. Everybody is moving forward. I’m still shooting high and trying to do what I can in this sport. I’m not focused on Jon anymore. And I can tell you Daniel Cormier, Glover — they’re not focused on Jon, either. Nobody in this division is focused on Jon anymore. That’s a fact.”
Of course there’s still a chance that Johnson could fight Jones after his suspension is over, but the 32 year-old reveals that he’s not planning on sticking around in the UFC indefinitely.
“I ain’t trying to fight until I’m 35. I’m trying to make my money and go on to something different — do bigger and better things with my life. Hell, I don’t want to get punched in the head that damn much. I’ve got other things I want to do.”
