Jon Jones has been through his trials and tribulations. As such, his waning reputation due to all such contrasts and his away time from the ring continues to haunt him. Old rival Daniel Cormier is here to ensure that people don’t forget about his controversies despite his status as the GOAT. It turns out he almost walked out of Kamaru Usman’s podcast because of a comparison to Michael Jordan.
Former UFC two-division champ Daniel Cormier will never be friends with Jon Jones. Their rivalry remains among the most heated in the UFC. The duo had several altercations outside of fighting. Although he respects Jones, ‘DC’ will also not have him compared to bigger legends like Michael Jordan for example. It is what happened when Usman made a comparison between Jones and Jordan.
No, he isn’t. I’m about to leave. You done with the interview? Do you…[laughs] Do you just wanna be done?So you’re telling me that Jon Jones is the Michael Jordan and LeBron James of MMA? You’re gonna sit up here in real life in front of five cameras?
Daniel ‘DC’ Cormier via the “Pound 4 Pound with Kamaru Usman & Henry Cejudo” Podcast
The Olympian wrestler and UFC Hall of Famer said Michael Jordan remains the GOAT for not just what he accomplished on the court. He also had a tremendous reputation outside the court as well. Jones’ multiple run-ins with the law and the failed drug tests mean he cannot be on the same level as Jordan. This is what Cormier believes.
Kamaru Usman said Jon Jones was the Michael Jordan of MMA, and Daniel Cormier almost ended the interview 😭😭
“I’m about to leave. You done with the interview?”
🎥 @pound4poundshow #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/TLiBDek42S
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) September 26, 2024
Ultimately, Kamaru Usman agreed while co-host Henry Cejudo looked on. ‘Triple C’ coached Jones when he won the vacant heavyweight title at UFC 285. Cormier lost to Jones at UFC 182, before being stopped in the rematch at UFC 214. The loss was later overturned as a result of Jones’ popping up in testing pool. His alcoholism, domestic dispute, and multiple arrests are something ‘DC’ alludes to even now.
To be or not be G.O.A.T.: The ‘Jon Jones’ Paradox
Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) defends his heavyweight title at UFC 309. The annual Madison Square Garden PPV event will mark a year of his pectoral tear that put him out last November. The heavyweight champion has only competed once since February 2020. The decorated light heavyweight champion submitted Ciryl Gane to win the vacant championship at UFC 285 in March 2023.
Is Jon Jones an accidental G.O.A.T.? (Source: abcnews.go.com)His rivalry and the issue of his popping for steroid use aside, Daniel Cormier and other UFC competition veterans do recognize ‘Bones’ and his output. ‘DC’ even bills that Jon Jones is one of the only needle-moving stars with big pay-per-view buys right now. As Kamaru Usman pointed out, given his draw power and style, Jones is thus the greatest fighter ever in the eyes of many.
Especially UFC CEO Dana White who’d factually bill him as the absolute pound-for-pound G.O.A.T. But that has been a fast-waning effect due to not being an active champion like Alex Pereira. The Brazilian also won titles in more than one division like Jones. But the current heavyweight champ once took a three-year out due to contractual rehash, then another due to injury.
That proves a big blemish in GOAT conversations in the span of his 23 fights since UFC 87 in 2008. Jones is naturally the greatest but not the greatest “of all time” when half of the time, he isn’t there. He will not leave an everlasting legacy at heavyweight and probably retire after a maiden defense. As Javier Mendez puts it – Jon Jones is the GOAT, but an installment GOAT, and not past 2023.
