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Daniel Cormier, Jon Jones agree to ignore each other during UFC 214 call, almost stick to it

[sigallery id=”h2Qk7B3VbdchF2w42UnKmK” title=”Jones def. Cormier” type=”sigallery”]

UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier and ex-champ Jon Jones spent most of today’s UFC 214 conference call pretending like the other one wasn’t there.

After all the bickering and bad blood of the last three years, the rivals could agree on one thing: It was best not to talk to each other.

Jones (22-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) was asked during the call whether Cormier (19-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) represented his greatest antagonist in a career that’s seen plenty of rivals.

“I would say outside of the octagon, yes, because of all the back and forth and all the verbal,” Jones told MMAjunkie. “But inside of the octagon, it would have to be Alexander Gustafsson. He came the closest to actually putting me in a spot where I felt like, ‘(expletive), I’m digging deep right now. I could be losing this.’

With Daniel Cormier, with Rashad Evans, with anybody else I beat by unanimous decision, there was never a moment where I felt like I was in danger, or I even had to dig deep or pull out my reserves. I was coasting.

“I mean, at one point in the first fight, I smiled and looked up at the camera. I was like, this is great. It was high pace, and he pushed forward, but at no point did I get rocked or wobbled or hurt, or he made me bleed or anything.”

Rather than take exception to Jones’ characterization of their first fight two years ago at UFC 182, Corimer passed.

“At this point, I’m really, really not interested in arguing and fighting with this guy any more,” Cormier said. “My goal is to get in the octagon on Saturday. If all these things that he’s saying right now are true, then great.

“These are all things I can look forward to proving him wrong on Saturday. The guy has no idea what he’s in for. But I’m just going to sit back, let him talk, do his job of selling the fight, and I’ll go collect my check and defend my belt on Saturday.”

But before they could agree to ignore each other, they had to have at least one clash.

“I’m glad he has no intention of arguing, because I’m not arguing with him,” Jones said. “I’m answering your guys’ question.”

To which Cormier responded, “In a very long-winded fashion in trying to stay stuff he knows isn’t true.”

“I’m passionate, man,” Jones replied. “I’m so excited. I’m not a commentator. I don’t talk for a living. I talk with my heart. I’m excited about this, man.”

“Do you actually think I’m not excited?” Cormier asked. “Hey I can do it, too. ‘Jon, I’m excited about this, man.’ I can do the same (expletive).”

“Cool,” Jones shot back. “Well, how about we don’t address each other, and we just answer these people’s questions. Can we be professional?”

“Yes, we can be very professional,” Cormier replied.

The trash talk was a lot more “professional” than the kind that came from a hot mic during an infamous pre-fight interview. The two kept the name-calling to a bare minimum. Only once did they briefly skirmish following the exchange.

Two days ago, Jones appeared to lose his patience with Cormier and storm out of an interview during UFC on FOX 25. But the ex-champ said he was just late for a jiu-jitsu blue belt promotion ceremony. And at this point, there’s not much needed to underscore the fact they don’t like each other. That’s just a given.

For Jones, the fight is a chance to reclaim his title, while Cormier aims to keep that redemption limited to mere participation in the title fight, which headlines the pay-per-view event Saturday at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

Cormier professes to be done opining about Jones’ mental state leading into the rematch. All that matters to him is that the fight happens. It didn’t the last time he prepared for it, so the talk that accompanies the buildup to the second fight is irrelevant.

Jones can be confident and profess to be a changed man. All he needs to do in Cormier’s eyes? Show up.

“I couldn’t give two (expletive) if he goes to church every day, and he’s reading his Bible, and he’s doing everything perfectly right,” Cormier said. “I don’t care. I don’t care if he’s out every single night partying. I couldn’t give two (expletive). All I care about is him getting to the octagon on Saturday.

“Yeah, he’s confident. But I’m over here confident, too, and I don’t have to tell you. I’m just going to show you on Saturday night. The one thing I do take is that Jon hasn’t done this for a while, because he’s a little bit long-winded.”

For more on UFC 214, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.

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