On the surface, there's no reason for you to agree with the premise of this article. It's out there—borderline crazy, even.
In a sport like MMA, however, sometimes we gotta get a little crazy.
Fallen light heavyweight king Jon "Bones" Jones emerged from Saturday's UFC 187 main event action as the night's biggest winner. This, despite the fact that he didn't actually fight. This, despite the fact that his former title was on the line and he could do absolutely nothing to defend it.
This, despite the fact that his biggest rival to date, Daniel "DC" Cormier, captured his vacant slab of gold and proudly strapped it around his waist.
Looking at the events of UFC 187 through this lens, it's difficult to see how Jones is anything but a huge loser on the evening.
But let's step into the optometrist's office and try out lens No. 2.
Jones, despite watching from the sidelines as his division battled for the title, is still unquestionably the man to beat in the UFC's 205-pound division.
Anthony "Rumble" Johnson, whom Jones was scheduled to face before the series of unfortunate events kicked off, fought a solid fight against Cormier, doing his best to show the world that he was the future of the light heavyweight class.
Rumble blasted Cormier with an overhand right from Hades that had stopped lesser men in the past early in Round 1, and the fight looked to be his for the taking.
Since coming back to the UFC in April of 2014, Johnson has looked unstoppable, and this punch on Cormier was just the latest act of destruction handed down from the mighty fist of Rumble.
Had the fight ended right there in the first frame, Jones would have reason to worry about recapturing his throne. Many felt Johnson's incredible power would give Jones problems before the UFC 187 main event, and now their pile of evidence stacked higher yet.
Jones bested Cormier by decision in January. Rumble needed one round to knock his head clean off. There's no way Jones—or anyone—can handle that man's stopping power.
(1) Gotta be so satisfying for DC to beat that type of opponent. Huge hitter w/ speed and a guy many thought could beat Jon Jones...
— Jon Anik (@Jon_Anik) May 24, 2015
Cormier, though, is not one of Rumble's past opponents. He's not a Phil Davis, a Mike Kyle or an aging Antonio "Rogerio" Nogueira.
He's a former Olympic wrestler who trains at arguably the best camp on this planet, slugging it out with the likes of UFC heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez, UFC middleweight contender Luke Rockhold and a stable of killers on a daily basis.
Where others wilted under Johnson's power, Cormier calmly plotted his comeback.
The American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) product sprung back to his feet immediately after eating that overhand right, and he looked to initiate the clinch. By round's end, Cormier would secure two takedowns and control the action on the mat. His strategy was in full effect, and by Round 3, his work would be sealed.
The win was remarkable. To stand up to Johnson's best weapons, weather the storm and emerge victorious was some kind of accomplishment. In a world where Jones does not exist, there's no doubt many would peg Cormier as the longtime ruler of the light heavyweight division, one of the finest 205-pound combatants to ever step into the UFC Octagon.
Unfortunately for the newly minted champ, Jones does exist. He's still there, picking up the pieces of his shattered life and warming out the hot glue gun in an attempt to piece it all back together.
If Jones can successfully rebound and come back the same fighter he was—or better—Cormier's stay at the top of the mountain will be a short one. DC dominated the fight against Johnson through his grappling and his sheer will to win—two areas where Jones thoroughly outclassed him at UFC 182. There's no reason the story would end any differently a second time around based on what we saw Saturday evening.
Cormier's win made Jones look even better on all fronts. First, he showcased little evolution, meaning that Jones would probably fare just as well or better in a rematch. Secondly, he exposed Johnson for the same cardio-lacking, submission-susceptible fighter he was during his first run with Zuffa.
Maybe he hits hard, but that's nothing a little game-planning and grinding can't take care of, and Jones is perhaps the best ever in those departments.
Congrats to Daniel for a great win, but no doubt Jon Jones is still the best fighter in the world
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) May 24, 2015
Following the UFC 187 main event, the results are clear.
Winner by rear-naked choke and new UFC light heavyweight champion of the world: Daniel Cormier.
Winner by still being the baddest mixed martial artist on Earth with no worrisome challenger in sight (and still): Jon Jones.
