Morning Report: Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone says he almost got into a fight with Jon Jones at the gym

Donald Cerrone isn't kidding when he says he likes confrontation.

Since joining the UFC in 2011, Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone has built a reputation as one of the most fearless fighters in MMA, becoming a fan favorite based on his willingness to fight anyone, anywhere, anytime. Whenever a lightweight withdraws from a scheduled bout Cerrone can usually be found volunteering to step in with his now customary response, "I know a guy." But it seems this willingness to throw down isn't confined only to the lightweight division.

On the most recent episode of Brendan Schaub and Bryan Callen's "The Fighter and the Kid" podcast Cerrone spoke about his penchant for confrontation and the time he and Jon Jones almost got into a fight. In the interview, Callen asks Cerrone a question about Jones's unwillingness to embrace his inner heel and whether that affects his performance but then quickly says that he doesn't want to put Cerrone on the spot. Cerrone replies:

"I don't give a f*ck. Jon can come and talk to me. We have plenty of disputes all the time, him and I... We almost had at it, him and I. At Jackson's. I spoke - this is before all the wild Jon came out - and I spoke about him being wild and he was like 'what the f*ck, you putting me out like that?' and I was like 'what's up motherf*cker?' But that's behind the scenes.

"What happened was all the UFC cameras were there that day and I came at Jon like, 'what's up?' And he comes at me and goes, ‘Cowboy' and puts his God hat on and got to work. He just said 'Cowboy, I just don't understand, I'm so nice to you, all I do is try to help you and this is how you treat me, this is how you want to come at me?' And I remember pointing at him like 'you motherf*cker.'"

The "God hat" comment is indicative of a feeling many MMA fans have had for years about Jones: that he is too aware of his own brand and that his true persona is very different than the one he portrays to the public. The now famous interview where Jones was unaware the cameras were rolling and he threatened to kill Daniel Cormier gave many fans all the proof they needed of this duplicity and since then many have called for Jones to be himself and publicly embrace every aspect of his personality. It seems Cerrone is among them.

"I wish he would just be Jon. Let everyone know, 'I go out, I party, I have a good time but you know what? I'm still the champ.'"

As far as how the altercation ended, Cerrone says that eventually everything cooled off and no blows were actually struck. The two have long moved past the incident.

"We're cool now. Jon and I are cool now. We hang out and we're over all that."

That's a good thing for Cerrone. As good a fighter as he is, Cerrone is still a natural lightweight and Jon Jones is arguably the baddest man on the planet. Still his willingness to go back at Jones is impressive.

I guess when Cowboy says he'll fight anyone, anytime, anywhere he really means it.

You can listen to the entire interview below where Cerrone also talks about Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, andthe UFC-Reebok deal.

5 MUST-READ STORIES

Re-up. UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson signs a new eight-fight contract with the UFC.

I bet. Former Bellator champion Will Brooks says he regrets the "negative reputation" he built on Twitter.

Nate Diaz. Junior dos Santos says he wasn't surprised by the main event of UFC 198 because Werdum is "not a striker."

Nah. Amanda Nunes says Ronda Rousey is "no big deal" and believes she would win if they fought.

Prospect. Bellator prospect Darrion Caldwell signs a seven-fight contract extension with the promotion.

EXTRA CREDIT READING

Cyborg. Patrick Wyman and Steven Rondina of Bleacher Report discuss Cris "Cyborg" Justino, where she fits into the UFC and potential opponents.