Former Federal Agent Discusses Jon Jones Cocaine Interview
In case you’ve been living in the woods, foraging for grubs under rocks, here is a brief rundown of the insane year for UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones so far (remembering it’s still January): The Jon Jones cocaine scandal started when the light-heavyweight champion got busted for using, and the results were made public days after UFC 182 on January 3rd.
The collective MMA world joined to mock the stricken boss, and an apology was quick to hit the headlines from “Bones”. The UFC took a rather soft stance on Jones to begin with, as he had already turned himself over to rehab. Then it was revealed that Jones had stayed for one day in the New Mexico drug treatment center, and sympathy quickly turned to confusion.
Then came the Jon Jones Opens Up About Failed Drug Test & Details His Rehab” href=”https://www.lowkickmma.com/UFC/jon-jones-opens-failed-drug-test-details-rehab/”>much awaited first interview from the champ since the Jon Jones cocaine scandal had begun, and was a frank and straight forward video. Well, at least we thought it was.
According to a very interesting report on Yahoo! Sports, “Bones” is doing everything he can to hide the truth.
The reporting officer is former Federal Agent Janine Driver, she is an expert in body language and deception, and the New York Times and international best selling author of “You Can’t Lie to Me”. She is the current president of the Body Language Institute, which offers civilian training courses and consults for various law enforcement agencies, legal teams, and news agencies. Check out what she though of the illustrious video:
Red flag 1
“When [Jones] answers that, no, he did not use cocaine from the time he took the [positive] test to the fight, he responds with a strong denial. He says, ‘No. No, I did not.’ This is the best denial and is often heard from honest people,” Driver explains.” “However, we then see a smile. This is called ‘duping delight’ and this is indicative of someone who is being deceptive. This indicates to me there’s something he’s not saying here.”
Red flag 2
“When asked how often he’s done cocaine, he responds that he experimented in college, “but that’s really it, you know?” This is what we call ‘squishy language,’ and it’s indicative that there’s again something he’s not saying,” Driver points out. “Instead [if he were being absolutely forthright] he should’ve simply said, ‘I experimented with cocaine in college,’ then stopped talking.”
Red flags 3 and 4
“When he said that the cocaine he has done was done, ‘Mainly just in college…’ Another deceptive red flag popped up. Both the words ‘mainly’ and ‘just’ indicate that there is more than what he’s telling us. Plus, then he does a shoulder shrug, which means he’s uncertain. If he’s telling us the truth, what’s he uncertain about?”
Red flags 5 and 6
“When again asked by the reporter, other than in college, this one time before the fight is the only time he had used cocaine, [Jones] responded, ‘Yeah, pretty much…’ This is more “squishy language” and it indicates he’s not giving us the whole truth,” Driver says. “He also does an eyebrow flash here, which indicates surprise. What is he surprised about?”
Red flag 7
“When the fighter says he is not a cocaine addict or frequent user, his eyes go to his bottom right, which is indicative of processing information with emotions,” explains Driver. “This is a change from his baseline throughout the interview, where he looked to his bottom left, which is internal dialogue or self talk. Why the change in behavior here?”
Red flag 8
“When talking further about not having a drug addiction or problem, we see the fighter smile here and do another eyebrow flash, indicating surprise. Although the smile and surprise could be because he thinks it’s absolutely ridiculous because he has no room to have a drug problem or there could be more to the story here,” Driver says. “If I were interviewing him I would ask a question about why the smile and what’s so surprising. The reporter then shares information that people who know him are shocked that he had used cocaine and the fighter shows no change in behavior like a smile or a contempt smirk, I’m inclined to believe that he is telling the truth here. However, I would need the follow-up question to make certain.”
If nothing else, this was certainly an interesting read. Perhaps this technical analysis explains why so many people are put off by Jones, that and of course his constant trolling. Or is the light-heavyweight champion that much of a heel that he can do it subconsciously?
