Heated rivals Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier crossed paths for the first time as the main event of UFC 200 at Wednesday’s press conference at Madison Square Garden and they didn’t hold back when addressing each other.
There were taunts of previous butt-kickings, criticism of past performances and everything in between. Here are some of the best exchanges between Jones and Cormier from the MSG presser.
Question: What is about this rivalry, that two years later, you guys still want to do this and the fans still wanna see it?
Cormier: Well, competitively, I respect what he’s done. He beat me so, I do want to fight him again … (pauses for boos) … that’s pretty much it.
Jones: (Chuckling hysterically) …. You guys ready to see DC get his (expletive) whooped again? Oh yea, we’re gonna send him crying, its gonna be a good one.
Cormier: Hey, listen, we all saw your bum (expletive) fighting on Saturday, you show up like that, I’mma beat that (expletive).
Jones: Alright
Cormier: I saw you struggling with Ovince Saint Preux, you show up like that bum, I’mma whoop that (expletive). YOU’RE A BUM.
Jones: I’ll wait … I’m a bum that took your undefeated record.
Cormier: Yea, you beat me, but you’re a bum. I saw you last week, bum. I watched you.
(A few more bum jabs)
Question: Jon, DC confidence is sky high after his last few fights. How do you feel his confidence is right now against you.
Jones: Ya know, DC … let me see here … um … (laughs hysterically) … DC should have a lot of confidence. You know, outside of me he’s the next best thing. He can beat these other guys but he can’t beat me. I don’t believe greatness is a coincidence and I don’t believe DC is great. If he was great, he would have beat Cael Sanderson in college, if he was great, he would have made weight at the Olympics, if he was great, he would have beat me the first time. I’ve never lost a fight. So let him be confident. He can beat these other guys all day but he can’t beat me.
Question: Jon, you talked about how it was difficult for you to change opponents right away. Do you think that will make DC change up his style to throw you off?
Jones: What do you mean?
Cormier: Ma’am, listen, ma’am, I’m not changing anything. I’m going right at his (expletive). I’m not changing nothin’. I will tell him right now. Last time, I didn’t take him down as many times as I wanted to â this time, they’re gonna say fight and I’m going right over there and I’m going to take him down and hold him down for 25 minutes.
Jones: You didn’t take me down once …. Hey, DC’s been lying to you guys for a long time now.
Cormier: I’m lying?!
Jones: Listen, DC told you guys, ‘I’m going to take Jones down 10 times out of 10 times if I want to.’
Cormier: I said 100, don’t quote wrong.
Jones: So far we’re five to zero, me.
Cormier: You took me down three times …
Jones: Last time I foot swept you, held my hand under your head like a little (expletive).
Cormier: What about when I threw your little punk (expletive) down?
Jones: And this guy is supposed to be the Olympian? DC, you suck bro. You call me a bum, I beat you four rounds to one, you’re not even my toughest opponent. You’re chump change.
Cormier: Hey guess what Jon? I got people over here saying it won’t happen the again.
Jones: You’re chump change.
Question: Jones, can you guys us your assessment of Demetrious Johnson after his win over an Olympic wrestler and tell us what you think about DC’s wrestling?
Jones: Well, the reason Johnson did so well against Cejudo is the same situation with me and DC. I’m a complete martial artist versus a wrestler, you know what I mean? DC is a wrestler that’s learned how to punch, I’m a complete martial artist. Same thing with Demetrious Johnson. This isn’t a wrestling match.
Cormier: Honestly, the last guy I fought, nobody’s heard from him and I didn’t take him down. Like, where’s he at, where’s the last guy I fought? Has he retired? Where’s Gustafsson? I didn’t take him down the whole time. The moment Gustafsson walked out of the Octagon with him, he was calling for a rematch. He’s never asked to fight me again. When I get my hands on this guy, watch, you’ll see a difference.
Jones: How many times did Gustafsson take you down? A kickboxer?
Cormier: I realized after you took me down, ‘ya know, they really don’t matter, they don’t do anything when they take me down.’ I go forward, I pressure you guys â
Jones: You pressured me and got that (expletive) whooped.
Cormier: Jon, you didn’t do anything.
Jones: I made you cry … I had you cryin’, I had you cryin’.