LAS VEGAS — Daniel Cormier tried to take the high road Wednesday, but Jon Jones just wouldn’t let him.
Cormier told the assembled media and fans at the MGM Grand’s Ka Theatre that he was “done with the jabbering and jabbering” ahead of Saturday night’s UFC 200 light heavyweight championship bout. Jones didn’t receive the memo, though, taking shots at his rival’s conditioning, among other things.
“He has a very punchable belly,” Jones said when asked to say something nice about Cormier.
Cormier called Jones a great competitor and a great fighter, but Jones had more barbs to lob. Jones said Cormier’s face was “all drawn-out-looking” in an apparent weight cut and noted that he beat his rival when he was a party animal and will do the same now that he’s clean and sober.
“I don’t really envision losing this fight,” said Jones, who added that even if he does lose, it won’t make or break his career. “… Losing really isn’t in my psychology.”
In fact, Jones only lost his light heavyweight belt when UFC stripped it from him after his numerous run-ins with the law. Jones beat Cormier by unanimous decision at UFC 182 last year, but the current champ sees a different result coming in Saturday’s title unification fight at T-Mobile Arena.
“I’m here to kick his ass Saturday,” Cormier said.
Countered Jones: “Another loss would do some devastation to Cormier’s legacy.”
Jones’ constant needling through Wednesday’s presser finally had its intended effect in the square-off. Cormier ascended the stage with his championship belt draped over his shoulder, and when Jones met him in the middle, he certainly noticed the glistening hardware. So he exited to his side of the stage, grabbed the belt representing his interim championship and again met Cormier face-to-face. Jones and Cormier started jawing at each other, forcing UFC president Dana White to separate them.
What else would you expect, though? Two belts, but there only can be one true champion. Who that is will be decided this weekend.
