Is this the most important fight of 2017?
In just a matter of weeks we will see the culmination of years of rivalry, harsh words and worse actions.
At UFC 214 Daniel Cormier will take on Jon Jones for the Light Middleweight Belt. As with any main card event there is huge hype and expectation but this has so much more, it's personal.
Back in 2011 Jon Jones was on the up. He became the youngest champion in UFC history. Defeating Maurício "Shogun" Rua buy TKO, we saw the capabilities and potential of this young man in his prime. Following this, many considered Jones to be one of the best mixed martial arts fighters to ever enter The Octagon.
The next years of his life took a downward spiral few could expect. Starting this horrendous run, Jones was involved in a drunk driving incident that made international headlines and tarnished his otherwise clean image.
Fast-forward to 2015 and things go to from bad to worse for Jones. Being convicted of a hit and run incident, Jones was stripped of his title and removed from the UFC roster. Just six months later and Jones was allowed to come back to the UFC. Within hours, rumours of Jones taking on the current Light Heavyweight champion, Cormier, were in circulation.
In no time at all the Cormier VS Jones fight was scheduled for UFC 200. What followed would prove to be the best build up to any fight in UFC history.
Previously in 2014 Cormier and Jones attended a promotion event for UFC 178, this culminated in an altercation. Jones pressed his forehead against Cormier, who responded by placing his hand around Jones’s throat and pushing him away. A brawl erupted and Jones landed a significant blow. Both fighters had to be restrained following the incident
Cormier, known for being a clean cut individual used Jones’ personal troubles to his advantage. At a number of press conferences in the lead up to UFC 200, Cormier publically criticised Jones and questioned why he was in the sport. Jones, for the most part, was quiet, knowing not to rise to the abuse.
Weeks before his match with Cormier, Jones gave a urine sample which tested positive for two banned substances. He was forced to withdraw from his match against Cormier and as a replacement Anderson Silva was brought in. Following a hearing Jones was found guilty, but the panel judged he had not taken the substances intentionally and gave him a one-year ban.
As we approach UFC 214, much of the talk is on Jones. Cormier has, as always, used his promotion and press events to his advantage. Claiming Jones should not be allowed to fight and questioning Jones’ morals and relationship with his family was a particularly hard-hitting blow.
Jones seems to have recovered and got whatever issues he once had out of his system. A stint in prison and endless court hearings seems to have got the message through to Jones.
On July 28, UFC 214 will take place in Anaheim, California. Cormier is by no means a pushover and, quite famously, has never been beaten in a title defence. He will hope that before then he can affect Jones’ mental state and cause him to return to bad habits.
Jones needs to keep his head down and focus on regaining his title. With such a huge weight of expectation on him winning and his pattern of not making it to the fight, Jones needs to keep mentally strong.
The UFC 214 main event is by no means a straightforward fight and its result will be highly unpredictable. As we know many consider Jones the best MMA fighter in the world, surely with this he can dispatch any opponent. Cormier knows he can get to Jones. He has done it before on many occasions and much of the build up to this fight will be on how much damage Cormier can do before they reach the fight.
Personally, I think it’s unclear who will win. My instincts tell me that Jones will find a way through Cormier and show him he is better than his rap sheet. Jones does however, need to make it to the fight first and not be ushered away in a rush of controversy.
