UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier and former champion Jon Jones have one of the most intense rivalries going on in the UFC right now. It all started back in 2015 when the two first clashed inside the octagon at UFC 182 for the UFC light heavyweight championship which Jones won via unanimous decision.
Since then, the two have never been able to face off again mostly due to Jones' troubled past with drugs and the one year suspension he received for failing a drug test right before their rematch at UFC 200. While Jones had to vacate the title and get his life back on track, Cormier did not waste any time in establishing himself as one of the best in the division.
Also read: Jon Jones mocks Daniel Cormier
Since losing to Jones at UFC 182, Cormier went on to defeat Anthony Johnson twice, once to win the UFC light heavyweight championship and then defended it in his latest fight at UFC 210 which he won via submission. He also defended his title against Alexander Gustafsson UFC 192 and has been eager to get inside the octagon with Jones once again.
Jones' suspension is set to end on July 6 and Cormier could finally have his rematch with the UFC looking to set a match between the two at UFC 214 on July 29. If and when Jones and Cormier get their rematch things will certainly heat up as the tension between the two continues to build.
Jones recently mocked Cormier on social media after the UFC light heavyweight champion said that despite being one of the good guys in the UFC, the UFC fans still consider him a villain. Cormier then went on to talk about Jones cocaine use that resulted in him entering rehab and went on to say that he has been cheating his entire life.
"If you're willing to do that right before a fight, and that's something that can be detrimental to you going forward, why wouldn't you do something that could help you?" Cormier said. "That's my philosophy. I could be wrong. I do believe that this dude has been cheating his entire life, though. Why not? Mmajunkie.com quoted Cormier as saying.
Cormier also spoke about the fact that Jones activities outside the octagon have also affected him in terms of his career, the UFC's fans perception of him and feels that people don't really respect him for all that he has achieved in the UFC.
"Not only are they not respecting me as they should, they're discrediting everything I have done. So, it's not off limits. And my whole thing is this," Cormier said.
"Some guy said this to me: 'Daniel, if you knew the struggle, you would never say the things you say.' And I said, 'Well, I don't know the struggle, because I know how dangerous it is. So I don't mess with it.' ... You're not born with addiction issues. You make the choice to start to mess with that."
