Jon Jones, the heavyweight champion, keeps getting criticism from the fanbase. It is mainly due to him snubbing Tom Aspinall from title unification. In his attempt to justify this, Jones has made some strong and some weak cases. One of which saw old foe Daniel Cormier in the mix.
Daniel Cormier has held two title straps during his tenure: one at heavyweight and another at light heavyweight. Cormier’s light heavyweight title run came at a time when the UFC stripped Jones of the title for outside-the-octagon troubles. As such, Jones took shots at DC while trying to justify why the UFC went towards an interim title bout at UFC 295.
UFC is a brilliant company, did what they had to do to save the event [UFC 295]. But I do agree with you, it definitely confused a bunch of UK fans, got them entitled thinking their boy really is the champion. It reminds me of when DC was the “champion” during my absence
Jon Jones via X (@JonnyBones)
British interim champ Tom Aspinall recently called quits on his unification efforts for the champion’s hardware. Subbing in at UFC 295, he had secured the spot, which was meant to guarantee him title unification. However, Jones only wants a legacy battle rather than unifying the title with Aspinall.
UFC is a brilliant company, did what they had to do to save the event. But I do agree with you, it definitely confused a bunch of UK fans, got them entitled thinking their boy really is the champion. It reminds me of when DC was the “champion” during my absence. https://t.co/UXbx7LMboG
— BONY (@JonnyBones) May 9, 2024
Despite their prolonged rivalry over the years, Daniel Cormier supported his choice to steer his legacy tactfully. Jones, however, didn’t return the favor. A fan account (@nsgsouljah) prompted an interim belt that shouldn’t have been formed to save UFC 295’s heavyweight scrap. Jones says it’s a brilliant decision but throws shade that it is reminiscent of ‘DC’ being a pseudo-champ in his absence.
Daniel Cormier catches a stray and fires back justifiably
Daniel Cormier couldn’t snag the title strap from Jones when they fought. However, four months after UFC 182, Cormier did manage to end up winning the gold from Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson. Jones, 27-1-0, remained “undefeated” in a sense. During the time frame of those few months. ‘Bones’ was made to forcibly vacate the stake to his 205-pound title after a hit-and-run accident with a pregnant woman.
Daniel Cormier fires back at Jon Jones for dissing him & Tom Aspinall (Source: belacherreport.com / nypost.com)Hence, when ‘DC’ did win it, many hardcore “Jon Jones” fanciers called his title shot opportunity into question. Finding himself on similar territory with Tom Aspinall, Jones once again saw the allure in self-hailing himself as never having lost out on the gold. He doesn’t consider Cormier’s hold over the title as real as he did not win it from the champ. ‘DC’ says otherwise.
That’s not a real indication of what was going on, …With me, it was him getting caught doing things he is not supposed to, and then getting stripped and taken out of the competition… It’s not the same. He was incapable of competing when I was the champion due to illegal substances found inside of his body… That’s just the truth….Him and I were fighting and he kept getting in trouble. He could not go. I’m back in the gym and I’m ready to fight. It was illegal.
Daniel Cormier via his Official YouTube channel (@DC_MMA)
As the kids say, I’ll be catching strays everybody been coming at me from John Jones to Derek Lewis. I respond in my latest YouTube video live at 5 PM Eastern/2 PM Pacific ( please look past my sinuses just absolutely killing me. Go and see what I have to say in response to both… pic.twitter.com/gi1Su6a8zB
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) May 14, 2024
Jon Jones became the first fighter in history to be stripped of two titles following his return to the sport at UFC 197. Days before the rebilled bout for a UFC 200 rematch, USADA flagged Jones for a positive test pool and then another in 2017 for the anabolic steroid Turinabol. Hence, Cormier doesn’t think the question mark on his long-standing status as a two-division titleholder holds merits.
