Manager: Jon Jones 'not even close' to doping, will address UFC 200 removal

Jon Jones has already officially been pulled from his UFC 200 main event against Daniel Cormier after a potential USADA violation, but will still share his side of the story. Jones’ manager, Malki Kawa, revealed soon after the news was announced that Jones is scheduled to address his removal from this weekend’s landmark card on Thursday.

Press conference tomorrow morning in regards to jones/usada time and place tbd

— malki kawa (@malkikawa) July 7, 2016

MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani later reported the press conference will occur inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas at 11:30am ET/8:30am PT. It has not been confirmed whether the press conference will be streamed.

Jon Jones will hold a press conference Thursday at 11:30 am ET inside the MGM Grand to address tonight's news that he is out of UFC 200.

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) July 7, 2016

Kawa did not provide a thorough explanation of Wednesday’s sequence of events — that is expected to come from Jones on Thursday — but did claim on social media Jones did not dope ahead of his planned UFC 200 matchup against Cormier.

Don't even bro. Not even close "@UnderwoodSports: Whoa whoa whoa.....Bones Jones doping?!"

— malki kawa (@malkikawa) July 7, 2016

Jones, the current UFC interim light heavyweight champion, would have looked to re-capture the undisputed title in a rematch against Cormier, his long-time rival, in the headliner of the highly anticipated UFC 200. Now headlined by Brock Lesnar vs. Mark Hunt, UFC 200 takes place live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, July 9.