Daniel Cormier seeking clearance for Jon Jones fight at UFC 200, tells Jones to leave “garbage” interim belt at home

By Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones (photo credit Jayne Kamin-Oncea © USA Today)

With Jon Jones successful in his return at UFC 197 Saturday night, Daniel Cormier is next. The only question that remains is just when the fight will take place, and if all goes well, we’ll see them meet at UFC 200.

Cormier, the current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, was cageside commentating the fight alongside Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan, and gave an update on his status in a promo directed to the new Interim Light Heavyweight Champ after the event.

“Get back in that gym on Tuesday like you said,” Cormier said. “I’m going to see the doctor on Monday. If they say that Daniel Cormier is OK to compete in 11 weeks at UFC 200 I’ll be there. I’ll be there with my championship belt, with my red wraps on my gloves as I come out second and you wait for me to walk to the Octagon.

“We meet here, live, from the T-Mobile arena, the brand new arena out here in Las Vegas, and we unify these titles. Don’t bring that interim belt. You leave that at home, that’s garbage. That’s a play belt, they got that thing from the kiosk upstairs before they gave it to you in the middle of the Octagon. Leave that thing at home, Jon, come chase this real title, get beat, and I’ll ship you back to Albuquerque.”

Penick’s Analysis: UFC 200 needs something if they’re intent on keeping Conor McGregor off the card (which still seems like the wrong call no matter what argument Dana White wants to trot out), and this would be up at the top of the list of potential options. Now, if Cormier isn’t cleared and able to fight that quickly with the injury from which he’s currently recovering, then the UFC may have to come around on McGregor. But if the UFC can get this fight together for that event, they may see it as enough with the number 200 alongside it to make up for the lack of McGregor and Rousey on the event.

[Photo (c) Jayne Kamin-Oncea via USA Today Sports]

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