I always enjoy a good storyline coming into a sporting event. I think a lot of people do. It adds to the hype. It raises the stakes. It gives you another reason to root for this person or that team, if you so choose. In non-team sports, like boxing or mixed martial arts (MMA), spectators often identify a little more with one of the competitors over the other. Instead of focusing on their acumen or prowess in the sport itself, spectators tend to take the personality, integrity, and moral views of the fighter and use that to judge whether or not they will cheer for them.
In a sport as controversial as MMA, the fighter who takes on the role of the heel or anti-hero is often a big draw. Fans and people who tune in casually either want this fighter to succeed because their bouts are exciting or want this person to get the life smacked out of him or her. Either way, a lot of people tune in to see big MMA fights, whether legally or illegally.
Whoever the photographer was took that picture (with that fortuitous click) above captured a scene that was the flashpoint to the biggest UFC fight of the year. It would appear that these two are in the middle of an embrace, as though Jon “Bones” Jones (left) had just returned from a long absence, away from his companion Daniel Cormier. Oh, it was far from two lovers being reunited. Trust me.
Preceding this picture was the conventional fighter’s weigh-in, a press conference (and marketing strategy) used by fighting organizations to promote the match while also ensuring that the fighters are within the official weight class. The weigh-in usually concludes with the fighters standing face-to-face (noses touching sometimes) while the media snaps pictures to later hype the event. It is entirely testosterone-driven and actually sometimes quite comical to see these grown men standing there, breathing in each other’s faces for about thirty seconds or more. Sometimes, even the fighters laugh too.
Other times, they do not laugh. In August 2014, Jones and Cormier walked towards one another, ready to take the picture—face-to-face, fists balled up—when Jones walked right into his future combatant and pressed his forehead onto that of Cormier. That picture above did not show Cormier caressing Jones. It was more of him grabbing Jones by the throat and shoving him back. Jones then charged towards him, and the two began tussling until both fighters fell down, knocking down the backdrop. Security intervened, pulling both fighters away from each other. Both used pejorative language towards one another. It was great.
The fight officially took place in January of this year with the light heavyweight championship on the line. The champ, Jones, retained his belt in a unanimous decision. Cormier looked outmatched. He broke down emotionally in the post-fight press conference, lamenting the fact that he needed to win because time was not on his side.
Fast forward a few months. Jones was training for his bout against Anthony “Rumble” Johnson, a hard-nosed, physically imposing brawler whose strikes can end a fight really quick. In late April, Jones was involved a despicable hit-and-run incident, literally running away from the scene of an accident in which he left a lady (who happened to be pregnant) with a broken arm and a damaged vehicle. There were drugs in the vehicle (which was a rental) and Jones was charged with a felony offence.
Not too long after this incident, the UFC informed the media that Jones was suspended indefinitely and would be stripped of his title. It would be announced that Cormier would fight Johnson for the vacated light heavyweight championship in May 2015.
It had all come crashing down for Jones, who was (understandably) facing prison time and was no longer on top of the MMA world. A litany of writers crucified him for his drug use in the past and the apparent hypocritical behaviour that he exhibited on several occasions. Everyone came out of the woodwork to crucify him and deplore his actions.
At UFC 187 in May Cormier absolutely decimated Johnson, proving to the world that he belonged in the conversation as one of the elite fighters in the sport. Many wondered if they would ever see a rematch between him and Jones (or if they would even see Jones in the octagon again). It appeared as though the UFC was moving on from the 6’4” specimen who threw the trademark elbows and knees in such an unorthodox fashion. Jones was the one who had it all and threw it all away. Daniel Cormier was here to stay. Was he the true champ? That was debateable. Regardless, he won the belt (although not against Jones) and that was all that mattered.
In September, Jones’s hearing took place, and it remained to be seen whether the former champ would be a free man. Fortunately for him, he was let off with probation and required to commit many, many hours of community service and public appearances. It was major, major news in the sports world. Although he was still suspended, the only thing really precluding a rematch between him and Cormier was the suspension from the UFC. Meanwhile, Cormier was preparing to fight Alexander Gustafsson, a 6’5” lanky brawler, who once took Jones to the wire in a classic fight a couple of years ago, here in Toronto. Everyone wondered if the winner would take on Jones, pending reinstatement, of course. In what would prove to be a classic bout, Cormier ended up winning a split decision, with Jones watching his every move. Not long after the bout, Jones uploaded a video of him saying that he missed fighting, foreshadowing his long expected return to the octagon.
On October 23, the UFC made major headlines by reinstating “Bones” Jones. Stripped of his title, almost one year after his last fight, it appeared inevitable for him and Cormier to square off.
Not too long after, the chirping began. They two traded barbs at each other on Twitter, laden with expletives and emasculating comments. Their love-hate relationship culminated in Jones challenging Cormier to meet him in Albuquerque, New Mexico and tweeting out the address of a place where Jones was making an appearance.
I love this kind of stuff. It is better than these Hollywood movies with recycled scripts. Much better.
The state of New York has been working on lifting the MMA ban so that at least one UFC event can take place next year. The UFC announced that it will host an event at Madison Square Garden next year—it was announced even before the state has legalized the sport. It is no secret that Jones-Cormier II would be a ratings bonanza. The UFC is yearning for stars—there is no Anderson Silva, Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell, Tito Ortiz, or Georges St-Pierre—and without Jones, Ronda Rousey is the UFC’s only marketable star. Due to the fact that she fights two or maybe three times a year, the UFC needs other stars to draw in revenue when she is not competing.
Hate him or love him, Jon Jones is ratings gold. The hatred between him and Cormier is must-see TV.
Can you imagine if you worked your butt off for a position, messed up outside of work, and you were stripped of the thing for which you worked so hard? To add insult to injury, a guy that you’re not too fond of is suddenly given your hard-earned title? Well, imagine that you have just been re-hired and everyone knows that position belongs to you, and you are convinced that he would never have had it had you not been an idiot and lost your job. Well, daddy’s home, Cormier. The question is, whose house is it, now?
The worst kept secret is that the UFC will make this fight happen. Very, very, soon. I cannot say for sure that Jones will fight for the belt in his first fight or if the UFC will generate a little more hype by having him (re)pay his dues by taking on another contender. Either way, barring some unforeseen situation, you will see Jones-Cormier II and it will be a bloodbath.
The question is, who will you be cheering on?