Anthony Smith isn’t going to vilify Jon Jones after his latest drug testing scenario.
Jones, 36, was alleged to have threatened Drug Free Sport International (DFSI) during a random visit in March 2024. Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) Heavyweight champion entered a plea deal after being handed a pair of misdemeanors this week.
Although the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) is no longer collaborating with UFC, veteran fighters have gained familiarity with the procedures. Having faced Jones in the past, Smith empathizes with the predicament of “Bones.”
“I kind of stuck up for him at the beginning of it because it is a pain in the ass to do the whole drug-testing thing,” Smith said on Believe You Me (h/t MMA Fighting). “I’ve always been lucky that my drug testers have always been pretty cool. They’re fairly respectful of your time, they’re fairly respectful of the inconvenience that they’re creating for you. So they always show up like, ‘Hey, I know it’s not the best time, sorry, let me get this sample and we’ll get out of here.’
However, I have experienced such situations in the past – not in my hometown or in Denver, but while being out somewhere, where I encounter a complete stranger. And sometimes, these individuals can be very unpleasant. It’s almost as if they derive some kind of satisfaction from exerting control over you or blaming you for things.
Smith explained that if he happened to receive one of those negative experiences, he empathized with the individual because he tended to get angry easily. Smith further commented that if the person in question was hosting a gathering and consuming alcohol with friends, it was possible that their behavior might have become unruly and disrespectful at times. Smith could understand if this caused the person to lose their temper. However, Smith emphasized that it became problematic when physical contact and the confiscation of personal belongings occurred. Smith clarified that if someone was being disrespectful towards the person in question, it was somewhat justifiable for them to react in such a manner, as it was not considered illegal.
The former UFC Light Heavyweight champion, Jones, successfully defended that division’s title for the ninth total time when he defeated Smith via a unanimous decision at UFC 235 in March 2019. Jones officially moved to Heavyweight when he earned a first round guillotine choke victory over Ciryl Gane in March 2023 (watch highlights).
