Jon Jones Out of UFC 200: Similarities, Differences to Roman Reigns Suspension

The worlds of UFC and WWE suddenly and unexpectedly have more in common than grandiose entrances and Brock Lesnar, as both have been blindsided by suspensions to two major stars.

On Thursday, the mixed martial arts world was KO'd by the announcement from Ultimate Fighting Championship that the light heavyweight fight between champion Daniel Cormier and challenger Jon Jones has been removed from the UFC 200 card due to Jones' failed drug test, in accordance with its Anti-Doping Policy.

A card supposed to be the biggest in company history took a major hit, its main event yanked from the lineup due to one man's selfishness.

It is not the first major, headline-grabbing suspension of the last 15 days.

Roman Reigns was suspended by WWE on June 21 following a positive test against its Wellness Policy. His dismissal for 30 days removed him from the build to his upcoming Triple Threat match against Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins at July 24's Battleground pay-per-view, leaving them to carry the hype for the major WWE title bout.

The suspensions are not the only thing that the fighter and sports entertainer have in common, despite how it may appear.

Similarities

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Both Reigns and Jones had been placed in high-profile positions by their respective companies.

At one point, Jones was anointed by UFC analysts, including Bleacher Report's Jonathan Snowden, as the best in his profession, and for the most part, his performances inside the Octagon supported that label.

For the better part of two years, WWE Creative positioned Reigns as the industry's next big thing. He dominated television time and was put over every former champion and similarly positioned wrestler in the name of elevating his star.

Their suspensions unraveled a great deal of hard work by the machines behind them.

Jones' redemption story, after years of legal problems, was at the center of his scheduled fight with Cormier. Reigns was the role model a new generation of fans could look up to. Both did irreparable damage to their images.

Finally, both jeopardized major events.

In the case of Jones, UFC 200 was forced to undergo a massive change, his fight with Cormier ripped from the card as a result of his positive test.

If given a day or two later, Reigns' suspension would have resulted in the removal of Battleground's main event, the first Triple Threat match between the three Shield members. 

Differences

Reigns' suspension is temporary.

After 30 days spent on the sidelines watching his fellow Superstars prepare for a grand WWE draft on July 19, he can return to action and will even resume his place in the world heavyweight title match at the Battleground pay-per-view.

Jones, on the other hand, will not be so lucky.

This is his second UFC suspension, the first coming in April of 2015 after an arrest on allegations of leaving the scene of an accident, as reported by Fox Sports. That suspension was indefinite. Jones could face anywhere from a six-month suspension to years away from the sport, leaving UFC without a star it had purposefully positioned as one of its elite, granting him magazine and video game covers.

In the case of both men, the suspensions were stupid, but Reigns is not a repeat offender. While WWE has not released the details of his positive test, there is no reason to believe he has consistently participated in actions and habits detrimental to himself or the company for which he works.

That is not the case for Jones. He has repeatedly exhibited reckless and irresponsible behavior that could cost himself a job, not to mention the millions of dollars he stood to make on July 9.

Looking Forward

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Jones is an alleged repeat offender. He has shamed UFC, ruined his reputation and derailed a career that should have been among the best in the sport's history.

The most he can do is show remorse, apologize to the fans and his employers and try to get himself in a position in his life where he can make the commitment to fight his way back to the top of the sport he once dominated.

Reigns will return to WWE and continue to thrive as one of its biggest stars.

Will he have to atone for his mistakes, both to management and his fellow Superstars? Absolutely. Will the fans be even more passionate in their dislike for him? Probably. But after a few weeks, a month even, he will reprise his role as the face of the company for the next 10 years, provided he makes no more mistakes similar to this one.

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For one man, a career of goodwill should help him overcome a one-time slip-up, with a spot in a pay-per-view main event against his two best friends in professional wrestling his shot at redemption.

For the other, a downward spiral over the last two years has him on the verge of throwing away everything he worked for, the discipline he acquired in training and rising through the world of mixed martial arts absent from his life away from the Octagon. 

The key to both of their returns to greatness is remorse. Now is not the time for arrogance, nor is it appropriate for excuses. Reigns has already expressed his sorrow and disappointment in himself for his actions, while Jones did the same at a press conference on Thursday.

The key for both now is to prove to their respective companies that they can still be relied upon in the same way they have been in the past. While Reigns looks likely to slide back in to the main-event picture in his return, the future for Jones looks altogether more cloudy at this point.