Just this week, the UFC declared the bitter rivalry between UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier and former champion Jon Jones to be the second-greatest feud in the company’s history. Well don’t expect it to stop any time soon.
Cormier rematches Anthony Johnson in Saturday night’s main event at UFC 210 and to help promote it, he and “Rumble” went on the 5ive Rounds podcast this week. Of course, when talking about the 205-pound title picture, the specter of Jones looms large and, while Johnson responded that Jones’ name will “always be around, regardless of what happened,” Cormier vented his frustration about exactly what did happen.
“You kind of expect it, but there’s only one problem with Anthony’s answer,” Cormier said. “I think we’ve got to stop saying, ‘Regardless of what happened.’ We know what happened. We know exactly what he did. So when we say stuff like, ‘Regardless of what happened,’ or we don’t state the facts, it’s almost like we’re sweeping it under the rug. We know what he did. We know the bad things that he did. We know that he tried to cheat. We know all this stuff. So I get annoyed because I’m like, ‘Why are you asking me about a guy that, three days before we were supposed to fight, pissed hot?’ That’s the stuff that annoys me, not the fact that he’s a good fighter. He’s a great fighter.”
Jones is currently riding out a one-year suspension from USADA for testing positive for estrogen blockers in a pre-fight drug test ahead of UFC 200. In his defense, Jones claimed he took a contaminated sexual-performance pill. USADA confirmed that the pill Jones alleges to have taken was in fact tainted but found his lack of diligence had “verged on reckless,” and deemed it severe enough to warrant a one-year suspension. It’s these facts that Cormier wishes would be remembered when talking about Jones’ eventual return.
“He got that year [suspension] from USADA, right?” Cormier said. “He got a year suspension and there’s this misconception that USADA believed his excuse. They did not believe his excuse. They gave him the max amount of time that they could for what he did! The defense that he had didn’t prove anything. USADA gave him the max suspension that they could give him so, to me, he’s a cheater. They didn’t buy that whole — what was it, a fertility pill, or a sex pill? They didn’t buy it because if they bought the explanation, they would not have given him the max amount of time that they could have.”
Jones’ failed drug test is far from his only issue. In 2015, the former champ was arrested for a hit-and-run accident which led to the UFC stripping him of his title and suspending him indefinitely. Jones returned to the Octagon last year, successfully defeating Ovince Saint Preux but then ran into this USADA issue which sidelined him again.
But despite Jones’ continuing legal troubles, the former light heavyweight champion is still the dominant talking point in the division. He is expected to return to action later this year once his suspension ends in July and it’s likely that he’ll face the winner of this weekend’s title fight. Cormier says that will be him, and he had a few choice words for Jones beforehand.
“You cheated,” he said. “You also smashed into somebody’s car and ran away. I know what you did. If everybody else wants to ignore it, they can. I’m not.”
MUST-READ STORIES
Diet. Khabib Nurmagomedov denies eating tiramisu before UFC 209.
Ratings. King Mo vs. Rampage does Bellator’s second best numbers of the year.
Confidence. Angela Lee is confident she can compete with UFC Fighters.
VIDEO STEW
Embedded 2.
Can we please get Snoop in the booth with Anik and Stann for one event?
Free fights.
TTTHS.
Another Bas vid.
Khabib talking about his cousin.
DC’s interview with Highly Questionable was extremely good.
LISTEN UP
Beatdown.
Believe You Me.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Boss Logic is sooooo much better than the UFC’s team.
"Found You" pic.twitter.com/iCYn1x36by
— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) April 5, 2017
Undeniable logic.
Mickey Gall > CM Punk > Seth Rollins > Brock Lesner > Mark Hunt > Stefan Struve > Stipe Miocic = MICKEY GALL UFC HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION! pic.twitter.com/XsTg5wB9lb
— Mickey Gall (@mickeygall) April 4, 2017
Now who will Colby be onto next?
It's a desperate bid to save career against a washed up fighter. https://t.co/IVGdwrMMLq
— Colby Covington (@ColbyCovMMA) April 5, 2017
Garbrandt is pumped.
This season is going to be lit!! @ufc #TUF25 #TeamGarbrandt pic.twitter.com/utnerPm5mu
— Cody Garbrandt (@Cody_Nolove) April 5, 2017
Weidman did a Twitter Q&A if you want to check that out.
Have a ❓ for 'The All ' @ChrisWeidmanUFC? He's taking them NOW ahead of #UFC210 when you use #AskWeidman! GO ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/qtziVe358U
— UFC (@ufc) April 4, 2017
Spoiler alert.
@PaigeVanzantUFC I'm a massive @FoodNetwork fan! Awesome to see u win chopped! #congrats #chopped #ufc
— Paul Felder (@felderpaul) April 5, 2017
USADA.
Yep... @ufc pic.twitter.com/jyK6n65eWF
— Alpha Cat Zingano (@CatZingano) April 5, 2017
New friends.
Had fun sparring with @TJDillashaw and then having him over for dinner. #making #new #friends #boxing #ufc pic.twitter.com/HnVLp0cYNM
— Hi-Tech Lomachenko (@VasylLomachenko) April 5, 2017
Could he look less enthused in that picture?
I'm coming home #NewYorkhttps://t.co/SWvySfxqci pic.twitter.com/X7LCtkW1QM
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) April 4, 2017
This happened.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Saad Awad (19-9) vs. Ryan Quinn (13-6-1); Bellator 178, April 21.
Matt Hamill (11-8) vs. Luiz Cane (17-6, 1 NC); Fight 2 Night 2, April 28.
TODAY IN MMA HISTORY
2007: Joe Stevenson submitted Melvin Guillard with a guillotine in the main event of UFC Fight Night 9.
2009: Miguel Torres defeated Takeya Mizugaki by unanimous decision to retain his WEC bantamweight championship at WEC 40.
2013: Michelle Waterson submitted Jessica Penne with an armbar to win the Invicta FC atomweight championship. Also at this event, Barb Honchak won a unanimous decision over Vanessa Porto to win the inaugural Invicta flyweight championship.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Today marks my one-year anniversary with MMA Fighting. Honestly shocked it’s gone by so quick. I’m super thankful to work with all the great people here and thankful that y’all keep reading.
That’s all for today folks. Be easy and see y’all tomorrow.
If you find something you'd like to see in the Morning Report, just hit me up on Twitter @JedKMeshew and let me know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram and add us on Snapchat at MMA-Fighting because we post dope things and you should enjoy them.