Jon Jones hits back at fans with “steroids” taunts after showing off his new beefy physique ahead of his comeback fight against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309

In pre-fight photos released the week of their fight at UFC 285, Jones infamously appeared to have put on weight before his heavyweight debut last year against Ciryl Gane, but still won within minutes.

Jon Jones shows off his impressive heavyweight body in a new Instagram post

Last night, Jon Jones took to his Instagram Stories to share a photo of his body as he heads towards his first heavyweight world title defense. The Hall of Fame star spent three years strengthening himself between his last defense at light heavyweight and winning the heavyweight belt last year.

Many fans criticized his body in the first promotional images for UFC 285, but he appeared to be in great shape and made short work of Gane to secure the vacant belt. But he seems to have stepped up his game even further for his next outing, showing off a toned six-pack to his followers.

Many viewers were impressed, with one writing: “Damn! “Jones looks lean and mean instead of fat and funky!” Another added that Jones “looks a lot better” than he did when he previously worked his way up to heavyweight with “filthy bulk.”

However, there were also many negative comments. A number of social media users noted that he returns in fantastic shape following the UFC drug testing protocol change; implying that he had done so unnaturally.

There appears to be no basis for current rumors that he may be taking performance-enhancing drugs. Jones was randomly tested four times this year, with all results coming back negative.

Jon Jones hits back at critics of his six-pack abs ahead of UFC 309 return

Jones, who clearly takes the time to read his social media responses, took to X to give his response to some of his critics after sharing his photo. The two-weight UFC champion noted how silly it was that people made fun of him for his appearance before uploading the photo.

“They just called me fat,” Jones wrote to his 2.9 million followers on X, formerly Twitter. “Now I take steroids. I love it.” He also referenced a fictional substance he was supposedly taking, adding, “I've been taking PHW secretly.”

Many fans responded sarcastically to Jones, noting that it was weird to suggest he was on steroids. He has a history of failing drug tests, failing multiple tests for various substances over the years.

Ahead of his scheduled UFC 200 rematch with Daniel Cormier, he tested positive for the first time for the estrogen blockers clomiphene and letrozole. When the pair were finally able to fight again at UFC 214, he landed a brutal knockout that was turned into a no contest when he tested positive for turinabol.

Jon Jones claimed the new drug testing rules vindicated him over previous tests

Before his fight with Gane last year, Jones noted that a change in USADA testing rules in 2019 vindicated him from previous testing. He claimed that the new regulation, which would have raised the limit for banned substances to 100 picograms, would have resulted in no positive tests in his case.

“USADA changed some rules regarding picograms and what is allowed,” he told the media before UFC 285. “And I found out that all of my results were all under the new legal limit, which means I would have been excluded from every test I've ever taken and that means a lot to me.

“If the same rule had applied back then, it would never have made it to the media. It would never have been a big deal. My victory over Daniel Cormier wouldn't be a no-contest. It would be a knockout; a knockout win.

“So I hope with these rule changes we can go back and turn this no-contest into a win. That would mean a lot to me. I have no animosity toward USADA. It's just something we had to go through.

“I was the first and one of the biggest names to go through that and I'm glad I did because some of these younger fighters couldn't have survived something like that. They would have just been cut or couldn't afford the lawyers or whatever.

“So I chose this sport and Major League Baseball. I'm glad future fighters can avoid what I went through. It was hell being seen as a steroid cheat. I'm glad people see clearly that it was never me. I feel liberated.”

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