Jon Jones ready for UFC 200

Jon Jones’ rematch with Daniel Cormier in the main event of UFC 200 has been propped up by their talent, Jones’ steep fall from grace and Cormier’s holier-than-thou resistance to forgiveness.

“It’s pretty powerful. It’s a story people want to see,” Jones said Tuesday in a visit with reporters at the Palm restaurant in Los Angeles as the July 9 fight at T-Mobile Center in Las Vegas nears.

“The person who wins is really the winner in the whole argument. … He loses this one … he never really was the champion.”

Jones (22-1) beat Cormier (17-1) by unanimous decision in their January 2015 meeting.

Days later, Jones’ life spiral began. It was reported a pre-fight test for performance-enhancing drugs found cocaine in Jones’ system. He spent one day in rehab, then crashed his car into a vehicle driven by a pregnant woman, injuring her and fleeing his car, where drug paraphernalia was found.

The UFC stripped Jones’ belt. Cormier, now 37, won the title and defended it once, as Jones skirted a lengthy jail term for the hit-and-run, and then did so again after getting ticketed for street racing and harshly yelling at the police officer who pulled him over in March.

That came nearly four years after Jones, three title defenses into his ascent to No. 1 UFC pound-for-pound fighter, crashed his Bentley and was arrested for a DUI.

Cormier has shown no mercy for the transgressions, referring to Jones as a “junkie.”

“Imperfect, rough around the edges. As much as I try to be a good person, maybe I am a little bit of a bad boy,” Jones said.

“It’s not something I strive to be. I’ve always wanted to be a role model. We’ll see that as I continue to turn things around and try to do the right things.

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“I feel as if people are siding with me. My struggles have made me more relatable, more real. People can see that even elite-level athletes deal with struggles, addictions and demons..”

Jones, 28, returned to the octagon April 23 with a victory by decision against replacement foe Ovince Saint Preux after Cormier suffered a training-camp injury.

“I don’t see progression [by Cormier],” Jones said. “Everyone’s saying, ‘Jon’s been gone, D.C.’s gotten better.’ I don’t see how he’s gotten better.”

The UFC 200 appearance comes seven years after Jones was a prospect whose rise looked undeniable after he defeated former Division I wrestler Jake O’Brien by submission in the second round.

Jones was then asked what he’d tell himself if he had the opportunity to go back in time to chat with his 21-year-old self.

“Don’t wreck the Bentley,” Jones said.

lance.pugmire@latimes.com

Twitter: @latimespugmire