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By: Frank Hyden, MMATorch contributor
There wasn't any big MMA events this past week, but there's been plenty of big stories. Let's start with the biggest.
Jon Jones test positive for cocaine
Jones was tested in December and it came back positive for cocaine. This was considered out of competition, though, so his UFC 182 victory over Daniel Cormier stands. Jones entered rehab (for a day) and has the full support of the UFC. We don't know the extent of Jones' drug use, but if he's an addict, it's going to be extremely hard for him to stay clean unless he makes some big changes in his life. It's likely that Jones has a bunch of sycophantic leeches grabbing on to him and his success. Still, this isn't out of character at this point. He had a DUI a few years ago, after all. He's got to cut that stuff out. More importantly, he needs people around him who will cut that stuff out for him.
Jones needs people around him who are looking out for his best interests, not those who are just along for the ride or are wanting to get what they can out of him. I'm sure it's a hell of a ride, and it's one I'd like to be on myself, but you've got to be smart enough to realize that the Jon Jones gravy train can go skittering off the tracks in a hurry if you're not careful. All the people that benefit from Jon Jones need to start doing their job and looking out for him. If they don't, things are only going to get worse. Addiction is a hard beast to tame, I hope Jones finds the help he needs.
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Hector Lombard vs. Rory MacDonald is targeted for UFC 186. There's no question that this is a #1 contenders fight for the UFC's welterweight division. MacDonald was promised a title shot before the UFC decided to go with the trilogy bout between UFC Welterweight Champion Robbie Lawler and Johny Hendricks (until Hendricks decided not to wait for that shot). I thought the trilogy was a mistake in the first place, but it does lead to Lombard vs. MacDonald, which should be a great fight. As I write this, it's unclear what other fights this would be paired with. This would be a great co-main event, but the UFC has to pair it with another big fight in the main event.
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Donald Cerrone beat Myles Jury by decision at UFC 182 the other week, and he's taken another fight on short notice. He's done this before, but there's a twist. The fight is against Benson Henderson at UFC Fight Night 59. Taking a fight this big on a few weeks notice is crazy enough, but Henderson has already beaten Cerrone twice before. So, Cerrone is taking a fight on less than two weeks notice, and it's against a former champion; on top of that, it's against a guy who's already beaten him twice before? Well, you certainly can't accuse Cerrone of lying when he says he's ready to fight anyone at any time. You can say he's crazy, but he's ready to fight at a moment's notice. You've got to respect that. I think Cerrone wins despite the circumstances, and I'll definitely be rooting for him.
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The main event of UFC Fight Night 59 is Conor McGregor vs. Dennis Siver. The UFC is giving McGregor the fast track to a title shot against UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo. I don't necessarily agree with that, as I think that Frankie Edgar is more deserving than McGregor is, but I guess the UFC thinks that McGregor is a more marketable opponent for Aldo than Edgar is. That's accurate, but I also think there's a good chance that McGregor gets smoked by Aldo. Of course, there's a chance that McGregor crushes Aldo as well, but I don't think that's as likely. Either way, McGregor would surely walk through Siver and into a title fight with Aldo soon. I would like to see the UFC make the co-main event Frankie Edgar vs. Ricardo Lamas on the same card, with the winners fighting down the road.
Comments and suggestions can be emailed to me at hydenfrank@gmail.com and you can follow me on Twitter at @hydenfrank
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