Jon Jones is attempting to fix his relationship with UFC rival Daniel Cormier, insisting he has "nothing but respect" for his old rival.
The pair shared a bitter feud during the height of their fighting days, competing twice for the light-heavyweight title that they both held at different points. Jones won both, first taking an unanimous decision in 2015 before knocking out Cormier in their 2017 rematch which was later overturned due to a positive drug test.
And Jones is now speaking up in support of Cormier, surprising fans by claiming that his former rival is "awesome" with his post-retirement career. The former two-weight champion is now a TV pundit, and coaches wrestling for high school students.
“I’m not competing against Daniel Cormier,” Jones said to Sports Illustrated. “I’ve already beat him twice. I’m really happy for Daniel Cormier. I love what he’s done in his life with his wrestling and broadcasting. I think it’s awesome when a fighter can retire and use his voice and intelligence to do something that he loves, so I’ve got nothing but respect for Daniel Cormier.”
The pair's rivalry even landed them in hot water ahead of their initially cancelled bout, with a press conference feud ending up in a brawl that caused them both to destroy the stage. That bout in September of 2014 was pulled due to an injury for Jones, but they did end up meeting a few months later in January 2015.
Cormier has been less willing to bury the hatchet in recent times, saying during an interview on The Pivot podcast that he will never be fully settled after his second loss to Jones was struck off due to a failed drugs test. “He beats me, gets suspended for the first time,” Cormier said. “Next time, steroids, failed. Next time, steroids, failed.
Do you believe that Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones can ever bury their bitter feud? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
"It’s like every time we fight, and you get suspended, if we go through the interaction, and you won the fight, that memory does not disappear. Even though they said it’s a no contest, [fans] saw me lose. It’s the truth. All he gets is time. Jon Jones even then was making probably $5million. So Jon Jones, 2017, fights me in Anaheim, wins the fight, gets that ‘and new champion’ from beating me.
"They find out he tests positive for steroids. They say, ‘Oh man, he’s suspended for 18 months.’ Now you get 18 months, but you still got your money. And you’re still only 25, 26 years old. I’m 37, 38 years old. You’re 27, and you get a year off. It’s horrible, but it’s easy for him to say water under the bridge.
"But for me, it’s like, ‘Man, you did some stuff to my career that never let me settle, because now I don’t know.' I could know through the fights that maybe this dude is just better than me. But I also know that if you’re not doing the things that are boosting you, can you really work to the level that I’m working? … I can’t let it go. He’s a cheater.”
