‘Fight Inc: Inside the UFC’ by Roku has unveiled some interesting backstage interactions between fighters and one such exchange was between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier. UFC’s bitter rivals, who once clashed in public, seem to have toned down their heated rivalry. Jones and Cormier have clashed twice in their career with ‘Bones’ clinching victory every time. Their rivalry never really ended even with Cormier’s retirement as Jones has always been unfiltered against him, but the recent revelations tell a different story.
The͏ ͏ne͏w documentar͏y off͏er͏͏s a ͏gl͏i͏mpse int͏o͏ the͏͏ ͏back͏͏stag͏e͏ i͏ntera͏c͏tions b͏etween the figh͏͏ter͏s an͏d ͏their te͏am͏͏͏s. In ͏one of͏ t͏͏he v͏ideos,͏ t͏͏he͏r͏e͏͏ is͏ a͏͏͏͏ heartwarm͏ing yet ͏awk͏w͏ard ͏͏c͏onversa͏tion b͏͏etween ‘Bones’ ͏͏and ‘DC’, ͏w͏here Jones ask͏s t͏he fo͏rmer ͏dual-w͏e͏ight͏ champio͏n ab͏o͏͏ut͏ h͏ow ͏͏͏his life ͏has b͏͏een. Once bitter rivals, Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier’s relationship dynamics seem to have changed with time. The MMA community was of the notion that both the champs were in a cut-throat hating competition with each other but it seems like the reality is far from that.
“So when Jon says, “Hey, can I speak to Daniel?” which is very odd because, uh, let’s make no mistake about it, Jon and I aren’t great friends, and we probably never will be great friends. And that’s okay. That is okay. He and I don’t need to feel like there is an obligation for us to have some sort of great relationship. It doesn’t need to be that way,” said Cormier recently, recalling the interaction.
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In the clip, ahead of his clash against Ciryl Gane at UFC 285, Jones and Cormier had a peculiar exchange alongside Jon Anik. Jones asked a question to Cormier, “DC I have a question for you . How are you doin’ man? How’s life?” Cormier answered, “No, I mean, It’s good. My life is going really well. Thank you.”
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In the end, Jones had only one thing to say, “I just want to say, Daniel, I’m super proud of the life has turned out for you, man. I think it’s awesome. Congratulations on everything you have got going.” The ͏con͏v͏͏er͏s͏͏a͏tio͏n ͏c͏aught ͏th͏e ͏MMA͏ community off ͏gu͏ard, a͏nd the former dual weight champion ͏͏͏h͏a͏s͏ now come͏͏͏ fo͏rwa͏rd͏ to share hi͏s fir͏͏st ͏͏͏im͏pr͏͏essi͏ons͏ of the͏͏ buzz.
Daniel Cormier reacts to the conversation between him and Jon Jones
Amid their conversation on a call, Jones took the opportunity to ask questions about Daniel Cormier’s well-being. All in all the whole interaction is adorable but awkward and many might believe that everything is calm between the former rivals but the reality is something different. Daniel Cormier has recently uploaded a video on his YouTube handle explaining what actually transpired between them.
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He said, “You know, I know a lot of people love, uh, where old rivals become friends. It doesn’t have to end that way. Life is not all sunshine and rainbows, so you don’t have to be friends at the end of it. It’s fine. It’s not a big deal. But I think Jon, you know, at times, can be… and it can be odd when you come into contact with someone like that.”
Daniel Cormier cleared the air by stating that despite their adorable exchange they may never be friends. Even though they have had a cut-throat rivalry, they hold respect for each other but can they be friends like other rivals after their retirement? Well, Cormier states that they could never, but time will tell the answer. What’s your take on it? State your thoughts in the comments below.