Phil Davis on Jon Jones: 'I really can't poke fun at him, where he is at right now'

Phil Davis and Jon Jones each fired verbal barbs at one another through the media over the last year and dating back into 2014.

"Mr Wonderful" had initiated the dialogue on "The MMA Hour" and likened Jones to a "cookie" saying: "He's soft, he's sweet, and when I get my hands on him, he's gonna crumble in the palm of my hand."

When Davis signed on with Bellator MMA, Jones responded on a Google chat with MMAFighting: "Good luck crumbling me like a cookie from all the way over there."

"Mr. Wonderful," who will be facing Emanuel Newton at Bellator MMA "Dynamite 1" on Sept. 19, 2015 in the semifinal round of the night's four-man light heavyweight tournament, offered an olive branch of sorts right after signing his new contract with Bellator back in April.

The apology was, of course, drenched in sarcasm.

"I need to apologize to poor Jonny, because I said those words about crumbling him like a cookie and he has hung onto those words for all of about a year now," Davis told MMAmania.com at the time. "And apparently he hung onto those words because I hurt his feelings. So, let me apologize to him by saying sorry I said I was going to crumble you like a cookie, because he has still not let that go. I get it. I feel bad the poor guy has been worried about that comment ever since I said it. He is very sensitive, you know?"

This was only days before Jones was arrested on felony charges in Albuquerque for allegedly leaving the scene of an accident -- which left a pregnant women with a broken wrist -- and subsequent indefinite suspension by UFC, who also stripped him of his 205-pound title.

Jones' career has crumbled in his own hands due to his own actions, and the former champion is still awaiting the legal process to play out. In addition, there is still a possibility he could be indicted.

While the two fighters have said some disparaging remarks to one another, Davis isn't about to kick a man when he's down.

"I really can't poke fun at him where he is at right now," Davis told MMAmania.com. "I don't want to see anybody in that predicament. Not just professional athletes, but regular people. A lot of people this weekend (Labor Day) went out partying and drinking and got a DUI and got into car accidents and so I don't want people to make those kind of bad decisions. I've been there and I've made those bad decisions and it's not cool. Like I said, I can't poke fun at him. I want him to get back on track and get back to doing what he likes to do."

Davis, 30, hasn't fought since losing a split decision to Ryan Bader at UFC on FOX 14 back in January. He says his Bellator debut has been a "long time coming" and he "can't wait to get in there" against the former champion, Newton -- someone he's been eyeing for some time.

"I'm excited to fight Emanuel Newton," Davis said. "I've been watching him for years. He has a very interesting style. I've been watching him beat people. I watched him and I was like, 'I want to fight this guy.' It's not like I want to fight this guy and 'teach him a lesson' kind of thing. Nah, it's like I want to play basketball with this guy. I want to do this. I want to do that. I just want to test my skills against this guy. I'm very happy I get the chance to. I've been thinking about it for a long time."