Cormier’s bitter rivalry with Jones ‘picks’ at UFC 214

Cosmic paradox

BURBANK, California, July 27, (AP): Daniel Cormier recognizes the cosmic paradox at the bottom of his bitter rivalry with Jon Jones.

If anybody in the world could relate to the exact pressures and pitfalls faced by Jones over the past several years as a wildly successful mixed martial artist, Cormier would be that man.

If any fighter could teach Jones about the perseverance and steadiness necessary to forge a successful career with something besides spectacular athletic talent, it would be the man standing across from Jones in the UFC 214 cage on Saturday night.

“If we weren’t what we are today, there are a lot of things that I could give to him, to help him be a better version of himself,” Cormier said with a rueful laugh.

Instead, Cormier and Jones are locked in one of the greatest rivalries in MMA history, one featuring streetclothes scuffles, epic trash-talking and a pointed animosity that can only grow out of familiarity. In this Jan 3, 2015, file photo, Daniel Cormier (bottom), takes down Jon Jones during their light heavyweight title mixed martial arts bout

at UFC 182 in Las Vegas. (AP)