With everything Daniel Cormier has accomplished in this year alone, let alone his entire career, just the mention of Jon Jones gets him going. Shortly after becoming the first fighter to defend a title in two divisions, Daniel Cormier was naturally asked about his ongoing feud with Jon Jones. Jones had recently said “there’s little reason” to fight Cormier again after defeating him twice.
“Here’s the deal when it comes to Jones,” Cormier said at the UFC 230 post-fight press conference (transcribed by MMA Junkie). “It’s hard for me to really take anything seriously because you say, ‘I don’t want to give you a shot,’ and, ‘You don’t deserve it. I beat you.’ He said he knocked me out, which he did, and you guys know I’ve always said he won the fight. He once put like a video up of a little girl kicking a girl in the head. I said, ‘Look, man – she set that kick up perfect. But you were on steroids, dog. You can’t use that.’ It’s the same thing.”
Jones’ second win over Cormier, an Aug. 2017 knockout, was overturned to a no-contest after Jones tested positive for turinabol. His suspension was reduced to 15 months after USADA determined the substance was in his system unintentionally. This was Jones’ second failure under USADA. A first time offense usually sees a two-year suspension with four-year bans for second offenses.
“I’m sure USADA said, whatever, but you still had steroids in your system,” Cormier continued. “It does not matter. You can’t be on steroids in no way, shape or form. That’s not fair.”
NEXT: COVINGTON’S CORNER – JON JONES IS NOT THE GOAT
Cormier is right, it’s not fair. Potentially even more unfair is that Jones will be fighting for the title Cormier currently holds – UFC Light Heavyweight Champion – in December against Alexander Gustafsson. The idea that Jones could take Cormier’s title without having another fight and then not granting Cormier an opportunity to get it back, must drive him crazy.
“For him to say, ‘I don’t think he deserves a title shot,’ or, ‘I’m not going to grant him’ – who are you to grant me anything?”
Leave a Reply