The UFC held its Summer Kickoff Presser tonight and if you haven’t yet watched it, you should. It seems everyone is following the McGregor model, we got DC throwing water bottles at Jon Jones, fist fights over momma jokes, and Kevin Lee stealing Conor’s El Chapo stylist while simultaneously accusing him of cultural appropriation. All the while JoJo and Karolina are battling it out over who can be the cutest and most demure professional fighter. Wild show. At one point DC questions whether Jon Jones will make it to the fight or if he will again mess it up by, “doing steroids, snorting cocaine, or sandblasting prostitutes”. Interestingly the only item from that list Jones took exception to was the prostitutes, which is perhaps a bit telling.

These pressers can feel very contrived at times so call me a sucker but I’m more amped for Cormier vs. Jones II than ever. Not only does it involve perhaps the two most dominant fighters to ever compete in the same division; the sole loss on their combined record a result of their first fight (Matt Hamill nonsense notwithstanding).

Beyond its competitive merits it’s legitimately the biggest grudge match in the history of the sport. Perhaps Miesha and Ronda had more disdain for one another because no one grudges like the girls but in reality there was no real substance to their feud. Caraway said some silly shit on twitter and Ronda hit her with a pair of socks then refused to shake her hand.

Whereas DC and Jon Jones have some real deep-seated animosity beyond the ill will that followed their first fight, beyond the steroid bust that canceled their rematch costing them millions, and beyond all the shoe throwing and backstage kerfuffles. It’s something that is rarely brought up, but is now being talked about as a result of tonight’s backstage scuffle where DC can be heard warning Jon not to mention his kids.

Throughout his life, Daniel Cormier has suffered a string of tragedies and of them, an inordinate amount involved reckless driving. In highschool he lost a friend in a car accident, later he lost a cousin, and in 2003 he lost his infant daughter when the car she was in was rear ended by an 18-wheeler. It’s not something he talks about often these days but you’d be a fool if you don’t understand how this might fuel his animosity towards Jones. If you need a reminder, here’s a short list:

Dec. 12, 2008 Three months after his promotional debut at UFC 87, Jon Jones is driving with his girlfriend, Jessie Moses, and allegedly loses control of a 2001 Subaru on an icy roadway in Ithaca, N.Y. The car slides into two occupied parked cars, damaging the driver’s side mirror of one and forcing the other off the shoulder, according to an accident report. Jan. 18, 2009 Jon Jones, again in the 2001 Subaru with Moses and his newborn daughter, Leah, is cited for unsafe passing in Ithaca after allegedly hitting a car that was attempting to make a left turn. The driver of the opposing car claims he had his turn signal activated; Jones admits he didn’t have his on and acknowledges the car was slowing down. Emergency services are called to the scene, but there are no injuries. Jan. 20, 2011 Jon Jones was involved in a car crash while driving his Chrysler 300. The crash resulted in a woman leaving the scene of the accident on a stretcher. Nov. 24, 2011 Jon Jones is driving a black 2012 Bentley – given as a gift by the UFC – when a cop spots him “drifting,” or intentionally losing traction, around a corner before pulling into the parking lot of an Albuquerque strip club. The Bentley is towed after the cop runs Jones’ license and discovers it’s suspended. Jones is cited for “loss of traction” and driving with a suspended license. The charges are later dropped. May 19, 2012 Jon Jones is intercepted by Binghamton (N.Y) police after striking a utility pole. He is with two female passengers, who sustain minor injuries in the accident. Jones, allegedly slurring his speech and walking unsteadily, is taken into custody after he “politely refuses” a sobriety test. He’s later fined $1,000, ordered to undergo an alcohol-awareness program, and must install an ignition interlock on his cars. He also receives a six-month suspension of his license. April 27, 2015 Hit-and-run incident. Jon Jones turns himself in to Albuquerque police the same day police officially named him as the lead suspect in a hit-and-run that resulted in a 25-year-old pregnant woman to break her arm. Witnesses say Jones ran a red light and then fled on foot from the scene before turning back to stuff a handful of cash down his pants and again flees. Police find a marijuana pipe and marijuana in the car along with Jones MMA memorabilia and rental-car documents linking Jones to the car. Feb. 7, 2016 Jon Jones was cited for driving without a driver’s license, proof of insurance or registration. While having broke the terms of his probation the judge decided not to give Jones jail time but instead he was given community service. March 29, 2016 Jon Jones picks up another 5 violations to his probation for drag racing, exhibition driving, weaving, failing to properly display his license plate, and modifying his exhaust pipe. A video was released showing Jones cursing at Albuquerque police officer Jason Brown during a heated confrontation. Jones denies drag racing and calls Brown a “liar” and a “pig”.

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