3 things Jon Jones must do to salvage his reputation

Just when you think Jon Jones' reputation can't sink any lower, he finds a new way to define rock bottom.

On Monday, the NSAC revealed what substances were responsible for Jones failing an out-of-competition drug test that led to him being removed from July 9's UFC 200 just three days before he was set to fight in the main event.

Jones' team had more than a week to get ahead of the story by reporting what substances their client tested positive for and immediately identifying what tainted supplements he might have accidentally ingested.

Instead, they offered a vague apology while refusing to provide any updates on the situation aside from a hastily put together press conference the morning after the failed test was announced.

Even taking into account not wanting to do anything that might interfere with the appeals process, this overly cautious approach only made Jones look more suspect.

Just like that, he's gone from redemption story to pariah.

The saga of Jones' doping violation is only beginning, but it's not too early to start thinking about what he needs to do to redeem himself.

Kiss the ring

It doesn't take much to make UFC president Dana White mad, so you can only imagine him struggling to keep his head from rocketing off his shoulders when he heard Jones wouldn't be able to fight at UFC 200.

As of today, it's unclear if White has changed his mind about not speaking to Jones, but that relationship must be mended if Jones hopes to step foot in the Octagon again.

If Jones ends up receiving the maximum two-year suspension, his fate rests in White's hands barring a sudden shift in authority. White re-signed with the UFC for five more years following the organization's recent sale.

Drop the attitude

There was nothing wrong with rooting for Jones to make a triumphant comeback after numerous traffic violations culminated in him being stripped of his UFC title in April and suspended for six months due to his involvement in a hit-and-run.

On top of that, he has a positive test for cocaine on his record as well as an admitted addiction to marijuana.

That made it all the more incredible to see fans embrace him whole-heartedly after he served his suspension and came back to feud with rival Daniel Cormier. Somehow, despite his transgressions, the cocky Jones was once again the hero while the comparatively stuffy Cormier was regularly booed on sight.

However, this latest and arguably most devastating misstep had to have shaken even Jones' most loyal supporters. If he wants to win them back and convert those who were already waiting to bury him, he'll have to try sounding genuinely contrite and not as if overcoming his own mistakes gives him the right to put on an air of superiority.

Just win, baby

In a worst case scenario that sees Jones on the shelf until 2018, he'd still only be 30 years old. If he picks up where left off and goes on another dominant championship run, you can expect Jones to be forgiven quickly.

After all, it's not like his following is based on his charming personality or Nobel Prize-winning contributions to society.

We want to see Jones beat people up, something he does better than any other human being who is paid to strap on a pair of gloves and step into a cage for the expressed purpose of conducting violence.

And if his personal success happens to generate massive revenue for the new UFC overlords, you can bet he'll be back on speaking terms with White soon enough.