UFC interim light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is probably the greatest fighter in the history of MMA. However, in a sport that notoriously remembers only the last fight, Jones’ last fight was not impressive. The fighter attributed his plodding showing vs. OvinceSaint Preux at UFC 197 to 18 months of ring rust and a late change of opponent.

Cormer has a different explanation. During a recent conference call, DC said that what you saw is what Jones is.

“He’ll be tough, he’ll always be tough,” said Cormier, as transcribed by Dave Doyle for MMA Fighting. “He’s a good fighter. But, you know, nothing’s free. Nothing’s free. So, the Jon that showed up against Ovince Saint Preux is the guy who’s going to be in the Octagon on July 9.”

“All the partying, all the other stuff, you have to pay for that, and now we’re seeing where, it’s starting to take a toll. It’s time for all the outlandish living and burning the candle at two ends, and now we’re getting to the middle where it starts to burn out. So that’s who he is today. He’s not the guy from before. He may be 28 years old, but in reality, he’s lived on this earth much longer with the long nights and all the other stuff he’s done.”

“I’ve been here longer, in age I’m 37, but I haven’t burnt it at both ends and become a middle-aged man at 28 years old. That’s you today. You’re that slow guy that was in the Octagon on April 23d that looked like garbage.”