When Daniel Cormier fell to Jon Jones at UFC 182, his only experience at light heavyweight came against Dan Henderson -- a natural middleweight -- and Patrick Cummins, who was less than two weeks removed from his local Starbucks.

And now?

"DC" has a pair of additional bouts under his belt opposite two of the division's most dangerous fighters. After capturing the vacant crown against Anthony Johnson at UFC 187, Cormier went five long rounds with Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 192.

Jones, meanwhile, remained inactive (because of this).

"I beat the two best men in the division, and now we're right back where we started. But this time it's different. I'm the champion, and by him getting out of the game for as long as he's been, it allowed me to be more comfortable in this weight division. It allowed me to get through those wars that I need to prepare for the war that I'm going to have with him."

Not surprisingly, the bigger and stronger "Bones" remains unimpressed ahead of their April 23 rematch.

Excuse of the week: I wasn't comfortable at the weight division before — Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) February 9, 2016

Comfortable making Dan Henderson look like a child, uncomfortable fighting the champ — Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) February 9, 2016

Will history repeat itself at UFC 197? We'll find out in roughly two months.