Jones says fight with Cormier stemmed from backstage argument in 2010

J. Jones (left) participated in Jimmy Kimmel's program (right) on ABC. Photo: Reproduction/YouTube

In many situations, the past can explain the present. In the case of the recent fight between Jon Jones e Daniel Cormier During a promotional event in Las Vegas (USA), the old maxim came to the fore again. On Wednesday night (06), during an interview with the North American TV program “Jimmy Kimmel Live”, Jones presented his version of the confusion with the challenger and stated that the origin of the animosity between the two dates back to an argument over backstage at UFC 121 in 2010.

“I had no problems with him at the beginning. I met him backstage at the fight between Cain Velazquez e Brock Lesnar and I heard he was a wrestler Olympic. And I fought wrestling in my second year of college, at the national level, so obviously he has an advantage, being a wrestler Olympic level. So I approached him, trying to start a conversation, and I said: ‘Olympics? I bet I can knock you out any day,'” said Jones during the program on the North American channel ABC.

The champion continued with his story, but took the opportunity to provoke his rival, and for this he had the contribution of presenter Jimmy Kimmel himself. “He found it quite offensive that I didn't know who he was at first, that I didn't respect his medal… Well, he came fourth… I'm not sure what you get when you come fourth,” said Jones. "Anything. Just that ribbon, without the medal attached to it (laughs)”, added Kimmel himself, to Jones’ delight. “So, that's it, I think he got mad because I didn't respect his tape and now we're enemies”, amid laughter.

“Bones”, as he is known, also spoke about the fight in Vegas and suggested that Cormier's nervousness, who was not used to big moments like this, had been the trigger for the confusion. “I don't think he's used to these big fights and he was very anxious and nervous. I saw it would be a very tense look from the way he looked at me across the stage. And I was like, 'What are you looking at, I'm not going to back down.' We stood head to head and he karate-chopped me in the neck. I can’t let that happen,” he concluded.

On September 27th, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Jon Jones e Daniel Cormier They will finally put their differences and the history of more than four years of tension to the test in the octagon. On that date, the former heavyweight GP champion from the now-defunct Strikeforce challenges Jones for the UFC light heavyweight belt. The duel is the main fight of UFC 178.