Daniel Cormier knows Jon Jones inside the Octagon as well as anybody, so many are interested in knowing what “DC” makes of “Bones'” eventual jump up to heavyweight. Jones has been dominating the light heavyweight division of the UFC for several years now. After not having suffered a legitimate loss in mixed martial arts (MMA) competition thus far, Jones has teased challenging himself by jumping up to the dangerous heavyweight division of the UFC next.
Of course, Jones hasn’t fought since February of 2020. Since, discussions of Jones’ return to Octagon action have been uncertain, with financial negotiations seemingly the main issue between Jones and the Las Vegas-based MMA promotion. Despite this, Jones is still training hard, putting on size for the expected jump up to heavyweight. The current expectation is that Jones could finally fight again in 2023.
Daniel Cormier Breaks Down Jones At Heavyweight
Recently, Daniel Cormier was a guest on Chris Weidman’s SiriusXM radio show, where Weidman asked Cormier for his thoughts on Jones jumping up to heavyweight. Cormier said he believes Jones will do just fine in the weight class, but notes there’s some very “dangerous” matchups for him in the division nonetheless.
“I think he’ll be fine. The guy is a good fighter, very talented. I think he’ll do well at heavyweight. But it’s a matter of him making the leap, right? It feels like we’ve been waiting forever for him to fight in this weight class. I think the moment he makes the actual jump into the heavyweight division, it will make for the division to be much funner.
“It will make the division grow – and it’s already as fun as its been in a really long time. But just some of the matchups that he can be involved in with Francis Ngannou, Cyril Gane, Curtis Blaydes – it makes for an idea of some big time fights,” Cormier said. “There’s some dangerous fights for him, especially when you look back on his light heavyweight career and see how he struggled at times with bigger guys. So I think it’ll be fun to add, but I think there’s some big time matchups there for him, but I think he’ll do fine.
“Watching [Sergei] Pavlovich, after watching what he did to Tai Tuivasa and everybody recently, there’s some dangerous fights for him, especially when you look back on his light heavyweight career and see how he struggled at times with bigger guys,” Cormier added. “I think he’ll be fun to add, but I think there’s some big-time matchups in there for him.”
"I think the moment he makes the actual jump into the HW division, it will make for the division to be much more fun."
Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) discusses what Jon Jones brings to an already exciting HW division.
DC's FULL convo w/ @chrisweidman ⬇️https://t.co/OCb0Z2gJDa pic.twitter.com/SEybw4crcm
— MMA on SiriusXM (@MMAonSiriusXM) December 19, 2022
Cormier certainly knows a thing or two about competing at heavyweight. “DC” is a former dual-weight champion in the UFC, at one point simultaneously holding the light heavyweight and heavyweight titles for the promotion. In 2020 Cormier decided to retire from MMA competition, and was eventually inducted into the UFC Hall Of Fame. Cormier currently serves as a fight night commentator for the UFC.
