One week remains until UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier and ex-champ Jon Jones settle their business at UFC 214.
But as both made clear in a joint televised interview during UFC on FOX 25, the result of their rematch next Saturday won’t end their grudge.
Asked by UFC commentator Brian Stann whether they might bury the hatchet after the July 29 pay-per-view bout at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., a stone-faced Jones (22-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) blurted, “F*ck D.C.”
“I have no desire to be friends with him,” Cormier (19-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) followed. “Every time going forward we see each other, there’s still going to be issues, because either I’m going to smack him upside his head, or something is going to happen.
“We’re not going to be friends, and we’re never going to be able to be in the same space, because there will always be issues, because he’s a punk. You heard him. (Expletive) D.C. It’s like you learned a new language. He can cuss in public. Good for you, Jon.”
Stann delicately tried to approach the 10,000-pound elephant in the room with Jones trying to win back the belt he was stripped of after a hit-and-run. But Cormier was adamant that his rival’s troubles outside the cage had no bearing on his status as champion.
“He got his belt taken away, Brian,” Cormier said. “It’s pretty self-explanatory, Brian. You’re a smart guy, Brian. You know why he’s not the champion any more. He got himself into trouble. I didn’t have to beat him to become champion, because he beat himself.”
Of the circumstances that led them to this moment, Jones declared, “that (expletive) doesn’t matter.” He added, “if (Cormier) really can go to sleep at night feeling like a champion, then it’s whatever.”
Jones didn’t finish his sentence before Cormier was on him.
“I will tell you right now, I do go to bed feeling like a champion,” the current champ said. “It’s not the narrative. Nobody cares about the narrative anymore. I don’t care about your punishments. I don’t care about the stuff you do outside the octagon. All I care about is you showing up on July 29, and you and I fight again. That’s all I’ve cared about for two-and-a-half years.”
It’s been that long since Jones and Cormier last faced off. Jones emerged with a unanimous decision after a grueling five-round slog, and then his career went off the rails. Cormier has been counting down the moments to get another shot.
Assuming nothing goes wrong, he will. But other than a general respect for Jones’ competitive ability, he won’t be any closer to making a friend. And Jones darn sure won’t, either.
For more on UFC 214, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.
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