The Rivalry of Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones: A Deep Dive

The rivalry between Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones is among the most storied in mixed martial arts history. Over the years, this saga has turned into a rivalry characterized by intense competition as well as bad blood both inside and outside of the octagon. We take a deep dive into the early days of the beef, through to their defining bouts on fight night and all manner of controversies that fuelled what would ultimately become one of MMA’s most compelling storylines.

Origins of the Rivalry
Leading up to their first meeting in the octagon, there was a heated feud between Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones. Both fighters were rather laden with excellent history, along the road to each other through their light heavyweight success.

Jon Jones: The Prodigy
Jon ‘Bones’ Jones started his MMA journey in 2008, and by the time he entered the big league, he had shown a unique style, athleticism, and creativity in the ring. Jones was declared the ultimate fighter champion and became the record holder for the youngest fighter to have clinched the title at the tender age of 23 years after he defeated Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua for the light heavyweight title in 2011. Jones was able to retain his champion’s belt several times by defending it against other renowned fighters like Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Rashad Evans, and Vitor Belfort. His authoritative personality, together with agility and power, was well appreciated in the ring, but out of it, people from all over the world despised him for his mischievous deeds.

Daniel Cormier: The Olympian
Daniel Cormier, commonly known as ‘DC’, is a wrestler who began his MMA career in 2009. He was able to make an impact in the heavyweight category since he was a wrestler by profession and was physically strong. This is after Cormier won the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament and switched to the UFC, where he would remain unbeaten. However, Cormier had to relinquish the heavyweight division and move to the light heavyweight division so that he would not have to face Cain Velasquez, his friend and training partner. The choice put him on the path for the fight with Jon Jones.

Getting to Their First Battle
Cormier and Jones, the two fighters, were not on the best terms with each other from the time this fight was announced. Their first confrontation was at the press conference in 2014, and it degenerated into the two fighters shouting at each other before getting into a scuffle. The hatred was real because of the differences in their characters and the fact that both were driven and ambitious.

The conflict between Jones, who was viewed as rude and condescending, and Cormier, who was polite and obedient in contrast to Jones’ attitude, The verbal attacks escalated in the interviews as well as through the social media accounts of the fighters, where both of them stated they would knock the other down.

UFC 182: The First Showdown

After much anticipation, the bout between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier took place on January 3, 2015, during the UFC 182 event. The bout did not disappoint, as it was a pure exhibition of talent and will to win from the two fighters. Jones was using his advantage in length and striking to maintain distance from Cormier, while Cormier was using his wrestling to attempt and secure the fight.

In the end, Jones emerged victorious via unanimous decision, retaining his light heavyweight title. The fight was competitive, but Jones’ ability to neutralize Cormier’s wrestling and control the pace proved decisive. The result did little to quell the animosity between the two, as the post-fight interviews were filled with continued trash talk and bitterness.

The Fallout and Controversies
The period following UFC 182 was tumultuous for Jon Jones. In April 2015, Jones was involved in a hit-and-run incident, leading to his suspension and the stripping of his title. Cormier stepped in to fight Anthony “Rumble” Johnson for the vacant light heavyweight title at UFC 187 and won via submission, becoming the new champion.

Cormier’s reign as champion was always clouded by the absence of Jones, with many considering him the “interim” champion until Jones returned. The two were scheduled to rematch at UFC 200 in July 2016, but Jones was pulled from the event just days before due to a failed drug test.

UFC 214: The Rematch
After a long wait, the rematch between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier was finally set for UFC 214 on July 29, 2017. The buildup to the fight was intense, with both fighters trading verbal jabs and promising a definitive victory.

The fight itself was a thrilling encounter. Cormier had success early, landing significant strikes and pressuring Jones. However, in the third round, Jones landed a perfectly timed head kick that staggered Cormier, followed by a barrage of strikes on the ground, leading to a TKO victory. Jones reclaimed the light heavyweight title, but the triumph was short-lived.

Controversy Strikes Again
In a shocking turn of events, it was revealed shortly after UFC 214 that Jon Jones had tested positive for a banned substance. The result of the fight was overturned to a no contest, and Jones was stripped of the title once again. Cormier was reinstated as the light heavyweight champion.

This development added another layer of complexity to their rivalry. While Jones maintained his innocence, claiming the positive test was due to a contaminated supplement, the repeated issues with drug tests damaged his reputation and added to the controversy surrounding his career.

UFC 232 and Beyond
The rivalry between Jones and Cormier also went on to affect the light heavyweight as well as the heavyweight divisions. He came back to competing, regained the title of light heavyweight champion, and successfully defended it. On the other hand, Cormier returned to the heavyweight division, which he had a lot of success in.

In July 2018, Cormier was able to knock out Stipe Miocic to become the UFC Heavyweight Champion, thus joining an elite group of fighters who have been champions in two divisions within the UFC. However, this accomplishment also served to strengthen Cormier’s status as a great fighter, despite the cloud of his rivalry with Jones.

Cormier and Jones spoke to the media and went on debating with each other; a third fight was never off the table. Nevertheless, the careers of both fighters were not similar at all. Cormier retired after a trilogy fight with Miocic, and Jones relinquished the 205-pound title in 2020 to make this jump to the heavyweight division.

Analysis of Fighting Styles
Cormier and Jones also represent two different fighting styles in the form of wrestling and striking, respectively. Jones has the tendency to strike; he uses the elbow and kicks along with good reach, which makes it very hard for anyone to match with him. His flexibility in the field has been one of his strong points, and this has helped him a lot in his battles.

Cormier, on the other hand, is a pressure fighter who has brilliant wrestling and grappling defense. Thus, he can close the range, dominate opponents on the ground, and deliver devastating blows from the clinch position. This created some of the most sensational fights as each sought to dominate the other, and the utilization of their styles was greatly manifested.

Personal and professional impact
The animosity between Cormier and Jones goes beyond the cage; the two had personal and professional conflicts. Thus, in Cormier’s case, the rivalry served as a motivation that compelled him to reach the top. However, one cannot deny that Cormier had many achievements in the sport, such as becoming a two-division champion. Due to his incredible power to come back from the setback, he is a darling of MMA enthusiasts.

For Jones, the rivalry with Cormier was both a blessing and a curse because it exposed his strengths and weaknesses alike. Jones is considered one of the best fighters inside the cage; however, his career was plagued by scandals and personal problems. Cormier feasts helped demonstrate his ability and willingness to fight but also exposed the problems he encounters in non-cage environments.

Legacy of the Rivalry
Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones are significant symbols of the history of MMA, and thus, their rivalry is multilayered. On the other hand, it delivered some of the best and arguably the most intense fights ever witnessed in MMA. The very steep rises, the emotional moments, and the constant hatred between the two characters made the fans interested in the story.

On the other hand, the rivalry is also a caution about how one’s behavior affects one’s reputation in the public domain. Jones’ failure to pass the drug tests and legal problems to a certain extent overshadowed his accomplishments; at the same time, Cormier, who had significant problems with Jones, became the key figure in the fight.

Nevertheless, Cormier and Jones have provided a spectacular match-up that can hardly be forgotten by fans of the sport. It produced the best of both and gave a story that kept the MMA world engaged for years. The nature and frequency of their fights will be among the most memorable stories in the history of mixed martial arts.

Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones are among the most notable fighters, and their animosity is one of the most complex in MMA history. Finally, the rivalry between these two fighters started with their clash of personalities, and then their fights in the octagon were full of drama, competitive spirit, and controversy. Each of these fighters has left a strong imprint on the history of the sport, which was influenced, among other things, by their rivalry.

Looking at the future and when the two warriors will be looking back at their careers, the Cormier-Jones rivalry will not only be defined by the fights but also by the path they took together. This is the story of the triumphs and failures of sports professionals, their personal and career experiences, and their quest for success. Even if they do not have the opportunity to fight one more time in the octagon, the rivalry between these two fighters will remain a hot topic for discussion for many years.