It’s time for UFC’s Jones and Cormier to finish the fight

By Case Keefer (contact)

Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014 | 2 a.m.

Daniel Cormier continues to blame Jon Jones for the infamous brawl they had four months ago in the MGM Grand lobby. Jones blames Cormier for escalating the situation.

Neither fighter has taken full responsibility for the fight that started when Jones thrust his forehead into Cormier’s and heated up more when Cormier shoved Jones away by his neck.

“I wasn’t there to be touched,” Cormier said during a recent fight card. “I was there for a photo opportunity, and Jon took it too far.”

“A guy grabbed my throat, and I had to stand my ground and let him know that I wouldn’t put up with nonsense like that,” Jones said. “So I think I’d do it again.”

Jones and Cormier, quite possibly the two best fighters in the world, don’t agree on much of anything. Before long, they’ll take their dispute into the octagon.

The undefeated Cormier challenges Jones, the light heavyweight champion whose only loss came via disqualification in a fight he dominated, Jan. 3 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in the main event of UFC 182.

It’s expected to be one of the biggest fights of the year, in large part because of the rivalry between the two fighters. The feud between Jones and Cormier began long before they turned MGM’s foyer into a combat pit. Their schoolyard scuffle, which sent a promotional backdrop tumbling as Jones charged forward throwing punches at Cormier, was only the latest battle in a war that has raged for four years.

Cormier knew he had found an enemy from his first encounter with Jones. That was in October 2010, when Cormier had just begun transitioning into mixed martial arts from his career as a two-time Olympic wrestler. Cormier was at UFC 121 in Anaheim, Calif., accompanying American Kickboxing Academy teammate and current UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez before his first title fight against Brock Lesnar.

Jones, six months before becoming a champion himself, approached Cormier backstage. Familiar with Cormier’s wrestling credentials, Jones began to tease him. Jones taunted that he could take Cormier down. Cormier was not amused.

“He insulted me,” Cormier said. “So he gave me material, and I put his picture on the wall, and I have been looking at it since then.”

For Cormier, the interaction confirmed Jones’ reputation of being cocky and fake. Jones said the whole episode was a misunderstanding.

“I had no idea he was going to be so prideful,” Jones said later.

But Jones never let up. As Cormier worked his way through the heavyweight ranks, never losing so much as a round, Jones routinely dismissed him or made barbs about his weight. Cormier since has dropped to light heavyweight.

Cormier also called out Jones regularly, issuing him warnings for more than a year before the UFC booked their fight.

The talk from both sides seemed innocent enough — to everyone except the two fighters involved.

“His mouth is what has gotten him in this situation,” Jones said. “I’m dealing with a guy who’s a smooth talker, and I’m always going to react when I’m getting insulted.”

Cormier can’t bite his tongue, either. He reacts incredulously every time Jones refers to him as the instigator.

“He shouldn’t deflect it on me,” Cormier said. “He started this.”

In the case of the MGM brawl, the Nevada State Athletic Commission sided with Cormier. Jones received a much harsher penalty — a $50,000 fine and 40 hours of local community service. Cormier was fined $9,000 and assigned 20 hours of community service in his home city of San Jose, Calif.

The fighters, to this day, refuse to apologize to each other.

“I’m going to push that man to a place he’s never been in his life,” Cormier said. “I will make Jon Jones quit.”