Jon Jones views fighting primarily as his profession, but he recently confessed that his intense feud with Daniel Cormier transcended the professional realm, becoming deeply personal and exposing his less desirable traits.
Often lauded as the greatest fighter in history, Jones has faced few true challenges inside the octagon. He typically approaches opponents with a business-like attitude, focused solely on securing a win. His dynamic with Cormier, however, was a significant departure. Jones admitted he despised the former two-division champion so profoundly that the feeling compelled him to train even harder, determined not to lose when they finally met.
Speaking on Vic Blends` YouTube channel, Jones remarked that the rivalry felt physically taxing. He explained that while his career is generally driven by a passion for the sport—loving the talent, opportunities, fans, and rewards—the interaction with Cormier introduced genuine hatred. He recalled pushing through extra workouts, even on Christmas Day, fueled purely by his strong dislike and the inability to imagine losing to Cormier. While this animosity drove him to victory, he stated he would prefer not to operate with such negative energy in the future.
Jones is confident that Cormier reciprocated these feelings, citing interviews where Cormier has publicly acknowledged his genuine hatred for Jones. He described the stress of their training camps, suggesting that the intense animosity and the “operating out of so much hate” likely took a significant toll on both of them.
One notorious incident occurred during an ESPN interview where their heated, private conversation was accidentally caught on camera and leaked. Jones confirmed that his aggressive language during that exchange, including threatening to kill Cormier, was meant sincerely at the time. He recounted the specific details of the argument, highlighting the raw, intense nature of the interaction and his genuine threat in response to Cormier suggesting he wanted to spit in Jones`s face. He labeled the moment as “too dark for sports” and “very real.”
Jones faced Cormier inside the octagon twice. He won both fights, although his knockout victory in 2017 was later overturned to a no-contest following a failed drug test. Regardless, Jones insists he never felt such intense personal animosity towards any other opponent, emphasizing that his hatred for Cormier was authentic and not manufactured for public spectacle.
Jones also recalled encounters outside the cage that underscored the depth of their animosity. He mentioned a street run-in where their respective teams had to physically separate them. He noted that Cormier was the only fighter with whom he felt a street fight was a real possibility. He also referenced their famous pre-fight scuffle in the MGM Grand lobby, describing Cormier as someone where a confrontation was automatic “on sight,” anywhere, anytime.
Considering Cormier`s distinguished career, which included holding titles in both light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions and being inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, Jones`s wins over him stand as major accomplishments. However, Jones reflected that he didn`t like the person the rivalry turned him into, even if it resulted in one of combat sports` most captivating feuds. Jones concluded by stating that while the rivalry was compelling for viewers, it wasn`t enjoyable to experience firsthand.