Jones (photo) is interim UFC champion. Photo: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Shortly after confirming that Daniel Cormier e Jon Jones will be in the main fight of UFC 200, in July, the two athletes rekindled their intense rivalry in a press conference full of provocations held this Wednesday (27), in New York.
In an event organized precisely to promote the new main fight of the night, Cormier and Jones resumed their provocations in the same way they did before UFC 197, when they would face each other. Initially, Cormier tried to explain why he is hungry to face Jones. “I respect what he did. He beat me, and now I want to face him again,” he said, being interrupted by boos, as Jones, a New Yorker, was widely preferred by the fans present.
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“That's it, New York. Are you ready to see DC take a beating again? We’re going to leave him crying,” said Jones, immediately hearing his rival’s response. “We saw how you performed at UFC 197 and suffered against Ovince St Preux. If you introduce yourself like that, I’ll beat you up, you bum!”
Jones then retorted: “I'm a bum who took away your invincibility. What will you tell your children when they ask you if you have already defeated Jon Jones?", He asked. “If they ask me, I’ll say I didn’t have to. ‘He was an idiot, an addict, and he lost the belt all by himself,'” Cormier said.
Jones was then asked about Cormier's skills inside the Octagon, and showed a rare moment of respect. “His last two fights were great, really good. He used a great strategy against [Anthony] Johnson, it was a good war against [Alexander] Gustafsson. He was great. I don't question his abilities to defeat others. He just can’t beat me.”
Cormier was also cordial when asked about his feelings about seeing Jones fight at UFC 197. “I respect him inside the Octagon. It was good to see him do what he's supposed to do, which is fight. I like watching him compete, and I’m being honest,” he said.
Afterwards, a journalist asked Jones if he was afraid of seeing Cormier changing his fighting style. Cormier interrupted: “Not changing my fighting style at all. The first time, I didn't take Jones down like I wanted to, but now I'm going up to take him down. I’m going to take him down and beat him for 25 minutes.”
Jones then took the opportunity to provoke: “DC has been lying to you for a long time. DC said he would take me down ten times in ten tries, but so far he's five to zero in takedowns for me. The other time, I held your head like you were my p***. And this guy should be an Olympic wrestler. Dude, you call me a bum, but I beat you four rounds to one. It wasn't even a close fight, and you weren't even my toughest opponent”, added the interim champion.
Jones and Cormier will headline UFC 200 on July 9th. The two faced each other for the first time in January last year, with Jones winning by judge's decision.
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