UFC star Jon Jones thinks that if he were to lose to Ovince Saint Preux at UFC 197, it would be the “greatest day” of Daniel Cormier’s life.
Saint Preux is set to take on Jones for the interim light heavyweight title, as a scheduled battle between Bones and Cormer, the reigning champion, was called off because of an injury. Jones commented on how keen the light heavyweight king is to see him downed in this one, insisting it’d be one of the highlights of his career, per Mike Bohn of MMAjunkie:
It makes it harder for ‘DC’ to sell that he’s not at least nervous. ‘DC’ can say, ‘I’m not scared. I’m not nervous.’ But when you offer to pay and fly [Saint Preux] out to train him to beat me, it’s just—he showed his true colors. He showed he is nervous and that if [Saint Preux] were to win, it would be the greatest day of his life.
As Bohn reported, Cormier had offered to help Jones’ new opponent in the buildup to this one by welcoming him to his training camp.
Saint Preux, who has won seven and lost two of his nine UFC fights, declined the chance. Cormier took to Twitter to offer some insight as to why he made such an approach:
It’s little surprise that Jones has taken another opportunity to have a shot at Cormier. The two have been at odds ever since they met at UFC 182, when the man known as Bones emerged victorious; Cormier then went on to win the vacant title against Anthony Johnson after Jones was stripped of the belt and suspended.
The pair have been trading barbs on social media frequently, too. Here are a selection of insults they’ve aimed at one another:
Despite Cormier still preserving a heavy presence in the buildup to UFC 197 on April 23, Jones has also insisted he’s not looking past the man who has stepped in to replace his initially scheduled opponent, per Bohn:
I’m going to give him the respect he deserves, which is my full and undivided attention. I know that sounds a little funny after my rant with ‘DC,’ but ‘DC,’ he doesn’t have my respect.
So many of my fans tell me, ‘Jon, don’t argue with ‘DC.’ It’s just a strategy so you’re not focusing on [Saint Preux]. But literally I just deal with ‘DC’ on Twitter for a second then my whole day is about Ovince. He has my full and undivided attention.
Saint Preux will face an almighty challenge at UFC 197, with Jones rated by many as the top MMA competitor in the world at his best.
As Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Snowden noted here, while the man from Miami, Florida, is a choice that has underwhelmed some fans, he’s arguably the most qualified to take on the former champion:
Still, it’s a bout in which there’s little to gain for Jones, which is why Cormier may have been stirring the pot and adding pressure in the buildup.
After all, Jones hasn’t been in the Octagon competitively since January 2015 and has had a lot going on away from MMA. The unforgiving and unpredictable nature of the UFC has been drilled home over the past few months, too, with competitors like Ronda Rousey and Conor McGregor—both champions at the top of their game—suffering shock losses.
Of course, if Jones wins with a swagger against Saint Preux, as is expected, it’d pave the way for a rematch with Cormier down the line for the undisputed title. Should that pattern of events play out, there’s little doubt Bones won’t miss a chance to mention the champion’s willingness to lend a hand in the buildup to UFC 197.
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