Jon Jones has lashed out as his heated rival Daniel Cormier after anti-doping agency USADA handed him a 15-month ban that will see him return to action sooner than previously thought.

And as you would expect, it was a decision that was met with more than a few questions from the MMA community. Jones reportedly provided USADA with information that would lead them to breakthroughs that would presumably be worth more to them than capturing a former UFC champion.

Of course, we’re unlikely to hear much about the details of Jones’ co-operation but all in all, we do have to accept that Jon is back and once again a very big player in the UFC light-heavyweight and possibly even the heavyweight division.

Two-weight world champion Daniel Cormier has been enjoying Jones’ absence more than anyone – establishing himself as the world’s P4P no. 1 but with the brutal finish he sustained at the hands of ‘Bones’ at UFC 214 still fresh in the memory – he’ll no doubt be looking to get himself into the octagon with his enemy sooner rather than later.

Jon took a pretty direct shot at DC today after the reigning champion posted a picture to his Instagram referencing several missed calls from USADA. Speaking on UFC Tonight last week, Cormier had this to say on the organisation’s persistence.

“What’s the point? They’ve come to my house 15 times. When it comes to USADA they can’t come to my house any more. You don’t need to. You don’t need to come; I’m not going to fail any tests.

“I’m not going to make any mistakes. I’m not going to have to sit up there and say ‘I’m serious this time, guys, I promise I really wasn’t trying to cheat.’”

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@dc_mma You mad, Bro? USADA keeps calling but you’re not going to pick up the phone because the second you hear them say I’m innocent is the instant the illusion you’ve created shatters. Then it’s all real AGAIN and that’s not a step you’re willing to take. Instead you wrap yourself in your fake belt and keep telling yourself the shin that slammed into your face and the performance that buried you once again was enhanced. The fact you can’t beat me kills you and it stops you from picking up that phone. If you answer it then the nightmare becomes reality. Then again, maybe you do pick up, accept the truth that you were defeated by a superior fighter and that gives you peace. Or it goes another way and you get motivated to try a third time and that will save me the hassle of having to dig you up before I bury you. So now that the illusion you’ve built is crumbling and the “violation was not intended nor could it have enhanced the athlete’s performance” you still have to tell yourself something yeah? And while there was “absolutely no intention to use prohibited substances,” it was my intention to kick your ass once again. Mission accomplished. Pick up the phone #letstalkaboutit

A post shared by BONY (@jonnybones) on Sep 27, 2018 at 8:43pm PDT

Cillian Cunningham, Pundit Arena