Jon Jones: Hurt By Daniel Cormier’s Steroid Allegations

Jon Jones spoke at the media event (per MMAjunkie) promoting his fight with Daniel Cormier at UFC 214. Highlights are below:

On the advice that Anderson Silva gave him: “When it comes to the fight, basically he just told me to know what I’m capable of. He said basically in a roundabout way, he said: ‘Make sure you know what you’re capable of.’ He said it was almost surprising to feel the level of fear (he) felt from Daniel. He said to me, ‘I’m an old man now, and Daniel had to take me down round after round because I felt fear coming off of him. This man has fear in his heart.’ He said, ‘Know what you’re capable of, go out there, and you take this from him.’ In a roundabout way that’s what he said.”

On Silva: “Anderson Silva’s my idol. He’s been the guy I’ve respected the most since I was 19 years old and I got into this sport. To hear him have that level of faith in me and pretty much tell me that it’s already done, I just need to go out there and do what I’m capable of. It felt great coming from him. One thing about me and Anderson is my takedown defense is solid, dude. There’s no taking me down if things don’t go your way. There’s definitely no laying on me in half guard the whole time the way that happened.”

On Cormier accusing him of steroid use: “That actually gets to me a little bit, because I think deep down this mother(expletive) knows that I wouldn’t do steroids…C’mon now. C’mon now. You mean to tell me I’m (expletive) smart enough to outsmart (expletive) USADA and (expletive) the Nevada athletic commission for 10 years? I’m a mastermind steroid user that beat all these guys for 10 years? He knows in his heart I didn’t do steroids. This whole thing has become an attack on Jon Jones’ character.”

On Cormier’s comments about him in general: “This is the first time I’ve been against someone who literally is just fighting to prove I’m the bad guy. (Expletive) it, I’m the bad guy. I’m not fighting to be the good guy. Listen to his interviews. It’s always the same (expletive). Now, he’s trying to convince the world that I did steroids.”