Jon Jones will not win heavyweight gold, says old rival Daniel Cormier.
Bones is, arguably, the greatest UFC fighter of all-time with a record of 26-1 and even that loss was a harsh disqualification.
Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones share one of the greatest rivalries seen in the UFCGetty – Contributor
The 34-year-old dominated the light heavyweight division for over a decade, but in 2020 he relinquished his title at 205lbs and began training to compete at heavyweight.
Although Jones has not fought, he has kept fans up to date with his training and how he has been transforming his body for the move to UFC’s biggest and baddest division.
Jones last fought in February 2020 when he defended the light-heavyweight belt against Dominick Reyes. Once Francis Ngannou won the belt from Stipe Miocic in March of 2021, fans were calling for Ngannou and Jones to be made.
UFC boss Dana White says Jones priced himself out of the fight and it was never made. Instead, Ngannou hasn’t been active since and will now face off against interim heavyweight champion Cyril Gane at UFC 270 next week.
Francis Ngannou and Cyril Gane are gunning for the right to be called undisputed heavyweight champion
Cormier fought Jones twice at light-heavyweight and lost on both occasions – though the second loss was later overturned for a failed drugs test.
DC believes Jones will eventually fight at heavyweight, but he won’t beat the best they have to offer.
“I believe that Jon Jones will fight at heavyweight, and he’ll fight for the belt, but he’ll lose to Ciryl Gane or Francis Ngannou,” said Cormier. “And I just think that the time away, with the weight difference, and those guys being who they are, that’s the problem.
‘Bones’ is looking huge as he prepares to launch an assault on the heavyweight divisionJon Jones Instagram
“It’s not that Jones has gotten worse – it’s just that these guys are a different level of heavyweight.”
Cormier and Jones have had a bitter rivalry down the years and it’s likely that Bones will have something to say about Cormier’s comments.
Although Jones got the better of Cormier inside the octagon, Cormier can say that he won gold at light-heavyweight and heavyweight and is one of only four fighters to become double champions in UFC history.
Jones cannot say the same and Cormier believes he won’t ever be able to.
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