Alexander Gustafsson Welcomes Jon Jones Using ‘Rocket Fuel’ After UFC 232 Moved to LA
Alexander Gustafsson just wants to fight Jon Jones.
That’s the message the top ranked light heavyweight contender conveyed late Sunday night after his fight at UFC 232 was moved from Las Vegas to Los Angeles due to an adverse drug test result returned by Jones.
It all unfolded on Sunday evening after UFC president Dana White revealed that the entire event was relocating to The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. just outside of Los Angeles on six days notice.
The reason for the move was due to a drug test administered to Jones on Dec. 9 by USADA that found trace amounts of Turinabol in his system. That’s the same drug Jones tested positive for in 2017 following his fight against Daniel Cormier.
USADA officials then stated that due to the minuscule amount of Turinabol in his system that Jones’ test could have only been caused by a residual effect from the original introduction of the drug into his body last year.
Because of that information, USADA would not punish Jones under the UFC’s anti-doping policy but the Nevada State Athletic Commission didn’t have time to investigate the situation due to the holidays so the fight had to be moved.
The California State Athletic Commission had just recently re-issued Jones a license and after reviewing the latest test results as well as having Jones undergo another test, they felt comfortable with the card being moved to Los Angeles on short notice.
After finding out about the fight being moved, Gustafsson offered his reaction on Twitter while mostly expressing joy that he’s still getting to face Jones on Saturday night.
“Now we all understand why you didn’t take the [VADA] test! You can be on rocket fuel,” Gustafsson wrote. “I’ll still gonna finish you Jon!”
Now we all understand why u didn’t take the Wada test! U can be on rocket fuel,, I’ll still gonna finish u Jon! #andnew #ufc232
— Alexander Gustafsson (@AlexTheMauler) December 24, 2018
The VADA testing was a suggestion made the California commission as Jones’ previous hearing as a way to further vindicate him from any wrongdoing. Jones ultimately passed on the voluntary testing while he was already undergoing extensive testing from USADA.
Jones issued his own response to Gustafsson on Sunday night.
Lol sure bud ??
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) December 24, 2018
Jones vs. Gustafsson now headlines the new UFC 232 card from Los Angeles with tickets to The Forum going on sale this Wednesday, Dec. 26.