Jon Jones to Miesha Tate after candid comments on doping case: 'I don't quit when things get tough'

As far as Jon Jones is concerned, losing Miesha Tate as a fan is unfortunate – but so be it.

Jones on Tuesday was unsuccessful in convincing the California State Athletic Commission he didn’t knowingly take a banned steroid prior to UFC 214, resulting in a $205,000 fine and revocation of his fight license.

Tate, a retired ex-UFC women’s bantamweight champion, didn’t hold back during an appearance on Sirius XM in expressing just how disappointed she is with Jones (23-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC).

“The thing is, I don’t really care at this point if he comes back because I’ve lost the motivation and the interest, and the faith that I have in Jon Jones has been lost,” Tate said. “Now maybe in three, four years, if he gets a great suspension (from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency), if he gets the book thrown at him, and he really does make those changes, maybe he has a chance at restoring (his legacy). But at this point, I just don’t care anymore. I don’t care. I’m over Jon Jones. I’m done with it.

“I don’t want to hear his sob story. I felt sorry for the first, second time he kind of had me. But it’s like, fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times, I mean, come on. Am I waiting for a fourth now? I just don’t … I’m over it.”

Jones didn’t let Tate’s words go without a response. In a tweet Wednesday night, the former UFC light heavyweight champion seemingly took a shot at Tate before wishing her well (via Twitter).

“I don’t quit when things get tough for me” likely is in reference to Tate’s surprise retirement in 2016 following back-to-back defeats, which included the loss of her title to Amanda Nunes at UFC 200.

Jones, 30, knocked out Daniel Cormier at UFC 214 but failed an out-of-competition urine test conducted on weigh-ins day July 28. He came up positive for metabolites of oral turinabol, a banned steroid. He passed two tests conducted prior to the fight on July 6 and July 7, and post-fight on July 29, though the latter sample was not tested for turinabol.

Jones may re-apply for a CSAC license at the conclusion of his case with USADA, which remains pending.

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