Daniel Cormier, Jon Jones get heated backstage and onstage at 'UFC Summer Kickoff' event

Despite an endless parade of delays, cancellations and unforeseen circumstances, the hatred between UFC lightweight heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier and former champ Jon Jones appears to be running as deep and strong as ever.

For evidence, look no further than today’s “UFC Summer Kickoff” news conference in Dallas, where UFC 214 headliners Cormier (19-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC) and Jones (22-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) went at it before, during and likely after the festivities had concluded.

Although some rivalries are accused of being fake or propped up, there’s no reason to believe that’s the case with “DC” and “Bones.” They still go after one another even when they think the cameras are shut off and the world isn’t watching.

UFC lightweight Michael Chiesa, who was one of the fighters in attendance at today’s news conference and got physical with UFC Fight Night 112 opponent Kevin Lee, filmed some of the pre-news conference confrontation, which apparently was sparked when Jones made a comment about Cormier’s children.

UFC 214 takes place July 29 at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass, though it remains unconfirmed whether Cormier vs. Jones will serve as the main event.

Once the news conference began, the first question from the media was directed at Jones, the No. 1 fighter in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA light heavyweight rankings. That sparked a long line of back-and-forth between the rivals, which included numerous expletives and an accusation of “sandblasting prostitutes.”

It all concluded with No. 2-ranked Cormier and Jones unable to give a traditional staredown. Jones, a former champ and former interim champ who had each of those titles stripped, brought a title belt and raised it above his head, which angered Cormier. They were kept at a distance, which ended the latest moment in the long saga between the two.

For more on UFC 214, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.