There was a feeling that Conor McGregor and Jon Jones were buddies - not close but still very friendly. This was especially evident whenever the two were on camera together - such as during one of the UFC's Embedded episodes or the Reebok launch last year.
A cordial relationship was mainly down the fact that they were never going to meet in the octagon. McGregor is rarely amicable with anybody who could be a possible opponent in the future.
It seems that McGregor may have fractured the friendship between him and Jones when he said pre-UFC 196 that he was '1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9' in the promotion's pound for pound rankings.
Currently at number one and two on that list are Jones and flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson, respectively. The two, via a post on Instagram, let McGregor know how they felt about that after he was choked out by Nate Diaz earlier this month.
Speaking to BloodyElbow.com, Jones further elaborated on why he has taken some gratification from McGregor's defeat.
A part of me thinks it's a good thing he was humbled. Right before he lost, he was getting into conversations about fighting anybody, anywhere, saying things like I could beat anybody, any weight class they're in.
I was getting fans writing me messages asking 'How would you do against McGregor?' I was like 'C'mon guys, you can't be serious. I'm a 220 lb, 9-time world champion. You really think he'd even be a match?' Some people really believed that he can beat anyone at any weight class.
So I'm glad that it happened. It allowed the fans to have that reality check, that alright, maybe that guy isn't unbeatable - stuff that us professional fighters knew the whole time
Jones' reasons for being 'glad' McGregor lost are two-fold. He also believes the Dubliner's loss could mean he comes back stronger than ever - a great thing for the UFC in Jones' eyes.
Then another side of me, is glad to see him lose, because I'm positive this is actually going to bring out the best in him. After defeat, you really start closing holes in your game, you start questioning your training to become better.
As a fan of McGregor, I want to see him have longevity in this sport. Guys like Conor McGregor, they symbolize our sport's future. Conor McGregor is getting fans from all over the world, who tune in and actually don't watch the UFC, they just watch Conor fight. We need guys like Conor McGregor be successful.
So yeah, I'm a fan of his, but I just have mixed feelings about his loss.
