Trash talk is a central aspect of high level mixed martial arts, because it puts asses in seats. There is trash talk making light of a fighter’s skill, of his gym, of his base martial art or combat sport, of his looks, and more.
UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier is opening a new page in the book of trash – he is making fun of former division champion Jon Jones’ past problems with illegal drugs. Jones tested positive for cocaine, and marijuana was found in his car when he got into an accident inuring a pregnant woman, earning a year suspension.
Jones is adamant that he is entirely drug free right now, and there is every indication to believe him. However, during a recent appearance on Fox Sports Live, Cormier drew a comparison, using the fictional characters Carl Winslow and Tyrone Biggums?. Winslow was a beloved policeman played by Reginald VelJohnson, Jr. ?on the ABC sitcom Family Matters. Biggums was a crackhead on Comedy Central’s sketch comedy series Chapell’s Show.
“Do you want your kids to try to be Carl Winslow? Or do you want your kids to be Tyrone Biggums making crack sandwiches?” asked Cormier, as transcribed by David St. Martin for MMA Fighting. “He said, ‘Another drug joke?’ Well, yea Jon. Another drug joke. There’s plenty of them.”
“I don’t hate him. I don’t wish bad on him. I don’t wish that he crashes into people. I don’t wish that he does all the stupid things that he does. I wish that his family didn’t have to go through all the things surrounding him, but for him, aside from all that other stuff? I can’t stand the guy.”
“I’m going to look at Jon and say, ‘Jon, you said you were moving to New Mexico to grown up. To me, it seems you went to the only place that will allow you to just be reckless and have no recourse for your actions.’ He didn’t go to grow up. He’s driving 75 in a 30. The guy’s using a damn passport as a driver’s license. It’s very clear, the difference. He told the cop he didn’t know he needed insurance to drive. This is crazy. He went where he could get away with all this stuff.
“Last time I threw my shoe at him so instead of leaving it on and having to take it off to throw it at him again, I’m just going to place it on the desk. If he talks too crazy I’ll throw it at him. He just says some of the most ridiculous things. It’s just he’s so stupid.”
Cormier expressed similar sentiments during a recent interview with FOX Sports’ Colin Cowherd.
“There’s nothing that’s going to fix this guy,” said Cormier. “Nothing’s going to change him. If you want you can buy into the story that Jones has changed but he’ll just let you down again. That’s who he is at his core. Jon Jones will mess up again. I dislike it. I dislike him. I can’t wait to see his face on Friday at this press conference because I’m going to tell him exactly how I feel. I want him to know that coming to this press conference and sitting there with his head held high, he doesn’t deserve that.
“If I did the things he did? I would be locked in a dark room somewhere so people didn’t have to see my face, but it’s the society we live in that we accept this guy back into our graces. It’s just to see him fail. I’ll make sure that he fails on April 23 and I’ll expedite the process of him messing up again.”
Daniel Cormier fights Jon Jones on April 23 at UFC 197 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
