Daniel Cormier isn`t interested in reigniting his long-standing rivalry with Jon Jones.
Recently, during a Q&A session on YouTube, Jon “Bones” Jones was asked how he believed a hypothetical fight between them at heavyweight, both in their primes, would play out. Cormier and Jones famously clashed twice at light heavyweight; Jones won both bouts, though the second was later overturned to a no-contest after Jones failed a drug test.
Now the reigning UFC heavyweight champion, Jones confidently stated that he would not only defeat Cormier again in a heavyweight matchup but that the result would be even more dominant than their light heavyweight encounters.
Appearing on ESPN to promote the upcoming season of *The Ultimate Fighter*, Cormier addressed Jones` comments, expressing surprise that the topic was even being brought up.
“Jon Jones, when I was actively fighting said, ‘I would not fight Daniel at heavyweight because it gives him an advantage. That’s where he’s best at,’” Cormier recalled. “I’m 46 years old, I am retired, I swing a golf club in my free time. He’s out of his mind.”
Cormier`s recollection is accurate.
Back in 2019, Jones indeed told BT Sport in an interview that he had no desire to face Cormier at heavyweight because he felt Cormier would possess a size and strength advantage in that scenario.
“Daniel Cormier is a special athlete and everyone can be beat,” Jones said at the time. “I think my greatest chance of losing would be to a guy like Daniel Cormier, with giving him a power and strength advantage over me, it just doesn’t make sense.
“Right now I make light heavyweight very easily and it just wouldn’t make no sense to fight a guy who I think technically [is] on your level, and to give him a size advantage, I’m not doing it. I’m not doing it. I’m sure my fans don’t like to hear me talk like that, but that’s just me being a realist and being respectful to Daniel’s abilities.”
Cormier further discussed Jones` recent remarks on his *Good Guy / Bad Guy* podcast co-hosted by Chael Sonnen.
“He actually said it,” Cormier reiterated. “He was like, ‘I wouldn’t fight Daniel at heavyweight.’ This was when I was actively fighting. And again, Jon and I’s rivalry is dead, it’s over, I don’t fight anymore. But come on, what are we doing?”
