Daniel Cormier believes Jon Jones’ history with drugs and PED usage could disqualify him from achieving GOAT status.
Cormier’s comments come amid an update to the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings. Following his two-minute destruction of Ciryl Gane in the UFC 285 main event last weekend to capture the vacant heavyweight championship, Jon Jones lept to the top of the P4P perch, unseating former No. 1 Alexander Volkanovski. Speaking on his ESPN program DC & RC, Cormier shared his hesitation to label Jon Jones the undisputed GOAT of MMA with his history of banned substance abuse.
“This always puts me in a tough position,” Cormier said. “I will always say that guys that have bad things attached to their name should not be held on high. I think especially with the drugs and the steroid failures and those types of things. I think when you have those things, it’s hard to call you the greatest of all time. And I know Anderson (Silva) and all those guys, but I think he’s in the conversation because he’s become a heavyweight champion.”
‘DC’ was also critical of Jon Jones’ placement at the top of the promotion’s P4P rankings following his UFC heavyweight title victory.
“I don’t, in my opinion, believe he (Jones) should be number one pound-for-pound,” Cormier revealed. “I think Alexander Volkanovski should still stay there. I don’t think he should be the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world, but I have no issue with it if people have voted that.”
Daniel Cormier reminiscing about Jon Jones pic.twitter.com/rXwhvpXK8S
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The Intense History of Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones
Daniel Cormier’s hesitation is likely compounded by the long history that he has with Jones. The two first met for the UFC light heavyweight championship in January 2015. ‘Bones’ won the bout via unanimous decision, but it was revealed that one month prior to the fight, Jones had tested positive for cocaine. In April 2015, Jones was stripped of the title following a hit-and-run incident where he fled the scene after hitting a pregnant woman. Cormier went on to win the vacated title against the late Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson.
Scheduled to defend the title against a returning Jon Jones at UFC 200, Cormier was informed by UFC president Dana White that ‘Bones’ had once again tested positive for a banned substance. The fight was scrapped and Jones was suspended for 12 months.
Just over a year later, Jones returned for the long-awaited rematch with Daniel Cormier at UFC 214. Jones successfully recaptured the light heavyweight title, knocking Cormier out in the third round. However, Jones was once again flagged for a doping violation in a test following his UFC 214 weigh-in. ‘Bones’ was stripped of the title and suspended for 15 months. Cormier resumed his reign as the light heavyweight champion and ultimately retired after becoming a two-division titleholder following a trilogy with former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic.
Recently, Jon Jones exhibited respect for Daniel Cormier in an attempt to bury the hatchet, but it’s quite clear that Cormier still harbors some animosity.
Transcription courtesy of LowKick MMA
