Daniel Cormier cements his legacy this past Saturday at UFC 226’s Pay-Per-View event when he knocks out Stipe Miocic to become a two-division champion simultaneously.
After making history, Cormier tells his nemesis Jones, no more fake champion ‘I hold the cards now.’
Jon Jones manager Malki Kawa appeared on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show and conveyed Bones reaction to Daniel Cormier on winning of the heavyweight title, and reminding the MMA world that he already beat him twice inside the Octagon. (Via MMAMania)
“I guess now we can say welcome to the club. He’s actually a champion. He won the Heavyweight championship and no one can take that way from him, he is the heavyweight champion of the world,” said Malki. “So that was one thing. He said, ‘Malk, this is the best that that could’ve happened because now I have the choice to come back and kick his ass at Light Heavyweight or heavyweight.’ So he was just happy, excited.”
Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones share arguably the fiercest rivalry in MMA. When it comes to a factor of jealousy, that Cormier achieved something that Jones couldn’t get through first, Kawa dismissed that thought.
“He beat the guy twice, he is not jealous. When people look at their rivalry an stuff, even Daniel, this is something aside from Jon. this is very real,” he added. “I wish he would’ve done this earlier, as light heavyweight champion and been like, ‘I understand I won this belt this way, but it’s not your fault.’ He is the heavyweight champion and no one can argue that, that is reality,” he said.
“But when you beat a guy twice and the second time was more than convincing than the first time, Jon is not the type of guy that says ‘It should’ve been me.’ He says, ‘Great, now it’s my time to come back and it’s my choice to be heavyweight or light heavyweight.’ And that’s awesome.”
Kawa says Jones isn’t too happy about what happened on Saturday due to there bitter past, but as a competitor, respect factor has to be there.
“These guys are competitors, and I wouldn’t say he is happy, but he is definitely not sad about it. He doesn’t have a feeling one way or another, I think he is just like, congratulations to the guy,” added Malki. “His words to me were, ‘He is officially part of the club.’ And I asked him what club? And he said, ‘champion.’ He wont this belt and it’s legitimate. I was glad to see Jon’s attitude be that way becasue I share the same sentiment,” he concluded.
Jones last fought at UFC 214 last year where he knocked out Cormier, but that win overturns to no contest, as he tested positive for Turinabol, stemming from an in-competition drug test. Kawa shed some light where things stand with USADA and are confident that issue will sort out soon.
“I’m very confident we will have a decision on this thing by the end of this month,” Kawa said. “They’re pushing hard. I know everyone involved is working hard to come to a resolution. I know that the UFC is anxiously waiting and we’re dealing with USADA on a daily basis. They’ve been really good with us as far as really investigating this thing and looking at it from a lot of different angles and stuff.”
“To me this program should not try to punish guys that they know aren’t trying to cheat,” Kawa explained. “To them, the right thing could be he’s innocent but he’s still going to have suspension because he was negligent. So, you can get punished for being negligent, you can get punished for cheating. We’ll see what they come up with this time.
“I’m hoping he gets cleared in the next month or so and that the opportunity to fight presents itself. If it’s next year, early next year or whatever it is, I’m confident.”
If Jones get’s clearance within a month or so, there is a chance to fight Cormier for the third time, before DC hangs his gloves for good if not, Cormier is more than happy to throw down with Shogun Rua.
Jones posted on Monday, but didn’t praise or bash Cormier, and put his future in the hands of faith:
Just keep in mind that life is a journey and not a race. If it’s in Gods will for me to still be here and healthy, please believe that they’ll be many more fights to come. Let’s not forget I’m still the youngest guy in the top 5 at HW & LHW @UniqueMazique 🙂🤙🏾
— BONY (@JonnyBones) July 9, 2018
