Promotions for UFC 235 mega event kicked off officially today with a presser in Las Vegas with Jon Jones and Anthony Smith being in the limelight.
The highlight of the event is going to be UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones (23-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC), who meets Anthony Smith (31-13 MMA, 7-3 UFC).
UFC 235 takes place March 2 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and UFC Fight Pass.
Before the press conference, Jon Jones described his recent licensing hearing experience with the Nevada Athletic Commission. He also commented on his upcoming title defense against Anthony Smith, Daniel Cormie.
Speaking about the hearing and waiting for four hours was a daunting task, Jon Jones shared his experience about the Nevada Hearing. Four hours of scientific stuff made him a bit nervous but he was really impressed with the works of technology. It helped him in a big way finding out details of the PEDs that being present in his system and how scientific findings helped prove that the traces were from the previous dose and not digested in recent times.
He approved of the whole session to be an educational one and there was a sigh of relief after the champ was granted the license to fight.
“It’s a great relief that I have nothing to hide and it is proven scientifically. Above all the picogram situation has zero effects on performance enhancement and that’s a great relief.” He added.
During the course of this mundane hearing there were moments when Jon Jones lost hope about getting the license but overall he was pretty optimistic as he speaks about the whole waiting thing.
On a question about being test case Jones adds that he doesn’t mind being in the limelight as long as the technology is there to prove that he is innocent and the evidence that the substance has no performance enhancing factors. He thanks the technology for the advancement in this field to find out that he is innocent.
On a question about fighting Daniel Cormier for the third time, he showed ultimate optimism and showed is intent by saying, “Bring out the checkbook, Dana.”
He added that the two fights of Anthony Smith were really impressive and that why he is on Jones’s radar. He further added that he respects Smith like any other MMA fighter in the arena. Though Jon Jones didn’t even know him a few months back but it is his brilliant performance that impressed Jones.
