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UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier and heavyweight champion Jon Jones have had a notoriously heated past, marked by fierce rivalry and dramatic bouts. Despite their tumultuous history, Cormier recently came to Jones' defence following misdemeanor charges related to an incident with a drug test sample collector.
Years after their championship saga in the UFC, the intense tension between Cormier and Jones has significantly diminished. Although they wouldn't consider themselves friends, the two have found a way to coexist more peacefully. This newfound maturity is evident as Cormier, once unable to be in the same room with Jones, now publicly supports his former rival.
Jones faces charges of assault and interference with communications stemming from an alleged incident on March 30. In a video on his YouTube channel, Cormier shared his perspective on the situation, emphasizing Jones' right to privacy in his own home.
“I know that we all rush to judge Jones because of his past issues, but the reality is, if a man is at his house and he’s having some drinks in the confines of his own home, so what?”
Cormier said. He suggested that any tension during the interaction with the drug testers might have been exacerbated by Jones' inebriation, a scenario that should not necessarily be seen as nefarious.
“So, kind of always thought it was BS. I don’t think much is going to come of it, but because he is who he is, it’s always a story, regardless of what happens to this guy. And honestly, that’s kind of like living in the spotlight, but I think because of everything that he’s done in the past, the light shines a little brighter on him, even in situations where it shouldn’t. So, I don’t really think this is that big of a deal. Some of the things that happened in the past were much more serious,”
Jones has denied the allegations and provided surveillance footage showing him high-fiving the sample collector, who claimed she felt "terrified" during the encounter. On Wednesday, Jones pleaded not guilty to the charges during a virtual hearing in a New Mexico court.
Cormier's defense of Jones is striking, given their history.
“If you are a Jones hater, and you are hoping something comes of this, I don’t think it will,” Cormier said. “I think this man was bombarded a little bit, and I think that a misdemeanor is only the court’s way of taking some action because something has to be done when you do something wrong.”
Though he holds no legal authority in Jones' case, Cormier's public support is significant. “I’m not the judge, I’m not the jury, so it doesn’t really matter,” Cormier concluded. “I’m just a guy that doesn’t like a guy, that is actually standing up for that guy because I know it’s bullsh*t.”
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