The Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier UFC rivalry featured an under-the-radar altercation at a press conference.
UFC legends Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier have become somewhat cordial in recent years after Cormier’s retirement from MMA in 2020. Years after their two epic fights in the Octagon, the Jones vs. Cormier rivalry is still marveled, and was arguably the darkest feud in MMA history.
Jones won both affairs inside the Octagon against Cormier, but the two former light heavyweight titleholders had their high and low moments in the buildup to their matchups. Their rivalry featured wild back-and-forths at press conferences, including Cormier labeling Jones a ‘cokehead’ and the latter embracing the narrative in hilarious fashion.
Jones and Cormier brawled after a faceoff at the MGM Grand, and shared numerous close-calls during their various run-ins outside of the cage. But one moment during their feud gets overlooked, featuring a near-brawl backstage at the UFC’s Summer Kickoff press conference in Dallas, Texas.
Daniel Cormier, Jon Jones got into it behind the curtains of UFC Summer Kickoff presser
Jones, Cormier, and a slew of other top names collided at the UFC’s Summer Kickoff press conference in 2017. It featured a stacked lineup of upcoming fights and press conference moments, including Michael Chiesa charging at Kevin Lee for mentioning his mother in pre-fight trash talk.
But minutes before the curtain went up and the crowd got to see all of the athletes on stage, Jones and Cormier got the action started early as they took their seats for the press conference. After Jones made a recent remark about how Cormier would have to explain to his children why he couldn’t beat him in the Octagon, Cormier was possessed in anger, and charged at Jones before security personnel intervened.
Cormier managed to get a water bottle throw off before cooler heads eventually prevailed, but it was a notable close call for all parties involved. Jones and Cormier were then asked about their rumored backstage incident, further stoking the flames of their legendary beef.
Weeks later, Jones went on to knock out Cormier in their UFC 214 rematch in what would be the final chapter of their fighting rivalry. But Jones’s knockout win was later overturned to a no-contest due to a failed USADA drug test.
Cormier was then promoted to UFC light heavyweight champion after Jones’s infraction, before defeating Volkan Oezdemir to retain the belt at UFC 220. It was Cormier’s final light heavyweight appearance, as he moved up to heavyweight to begin another legendary rivalry with Stipe Miocic.
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Jon Jones quells fan fears of UFC retirement, Tom Aspinall fight still in limbo
After infuriating UFC fans earlier this week with a vague retirement tease, Jones reversed course and appears back on track to potentially face Tom Aspinall later this year. Jones hasn’t fought since defending the heavyweight belt against Miocic at UFC 309 in November.
UFC CEO Dana White remains adamant that the promotion will book the Jones vs. Aspinall fight for an upcoming event, potentially as soon as September. The UFC’s summer slate is almost fully booked, after the recently announced Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira and Dricus du Plessis vs. Khamzat Chimaev fights.
Jones initially teased retirement in the buildup to UFC 309, before pivoting in his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan. But months after the Miocic fight, the Jones vs. Aspinall matchup remains more uncertain than ever before.
We could get more information on where things stand with Jones, Aspinall, and the UFC’s heavyweight division in the coming weeks. If Jones and Aspinall meet in the Octagon later in 2025, it could potentially kick off another legendary feud.