Supreme arrogance and a tad of pettiness has long bubbled just barely below the surface with UFC light heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones but, during and after his victory over Daniel Cormier at UFC 182, he finally seemed content in letting that side of him show.
With just seconds left in the final round as Cormier attempted a single-leg takedown, Jones threw his hands up in the air, as if already celebrating a victory. As Cormier began to separate, however, Jones threw an angry left hand at “DC.” When the horn sounded, Jones walked away, faced the challenger and threw a D-Generation-X-style double-chop to the nethers:
Jon Jones has just two words for Daniel Cormier: SUCK IT. http://t.co/eKeJNMeu3H pic.twitter.com/3lZCYwlNIl
— Deadspin (@Deadspin) January 4, 2015
The shade didn’t stop there, however. When Jones was interviewed by UFC color commentator Joe Rogan following the fight, the champ succinctly said “if you bought a ‘Break Bones’ shirt, take it back, you wasted your money,” referencing Cormier‘s walkout shirt for the event. “I’m sorry to be classless like this. I do not like Daniel Cormier and that’s why I’m being this way.”
While Jones was apologetic, the “classless” behavior was warmly received by most fans and media members:
“I’m sorry that I’m being classless right now. I do not like DC, and that’s why I’m being this way.” Don’t be sorry, @JonnyBones. #UFC182
— Hunter Alek Homistek (@HunterAHomistek) January 4, 2015
WHO CARES??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? RT @edes01: @SBNLukeThomas Jones not classy in victory. #UFC182
— Luke Thomas (@SBNLukeThomas) January 4, 2015
This side of Jones has always been present for observant fans.
The champ has consistently flashed bits of less-than-great behavior, from refusing autographs to scoring a DUI after crashing his Bentley into a phone pole to unleashing a slew of sexuality-based insults at a teenage naysayer on Instagram (which he would later half-heartedly deny). However, being a good guy is best for business according to Jones, so he has consistently presented himself as a family man and role model.
Whether this continues remains to be seen, but hopefully Jones continues to have fights with this level of intensity. Keep an eye out here on Bleacher Report for more of the UFC 182 fallout.
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