Jon Jones believes his rival Daniel Cormier will remain UFC heavyweight champion this summer.
Jon Jones may not be a fan of Daniel Cormier, but he certainly recognizes the greatness in the UFC heavyweight champion.
Jones, the current light heavyweight titleholder, predicted in a recent interview with Dan Hardy for BT Sport that Cormier will beat Stipe Miocic in their rematch, which takes place Aug. 17 at UFC 241 in Anaheim.
“I think Stipe will put up a better fight, but I do think ‘DC’ will win again,” Jones said. “‘DC’ is an extraordinary athlete. His flexibility and his speed for the way he’s built doesn’t really make sense — even his endurance for the way he’s built. He’s a special athlete. I don’t think most guys will beat ‘DC.’ The way to beat ‘DC’ is just to catch him with a knockout shot, which Stipe has the power to do. The question is, can he land it? I think ‘DC’ is smart; he’s gonna use his wrestling and wit to find a way to win again.”
Cormier and Miocic first squared off last summer, when Miocic was the heavyweight champion. It was Miocic’s fourth title defense; at the time, Cormier was the 205-pound champion. Cormier knocked him out in the first round of the UFC 226 main event in Las Vegas.
Cormier, who has defended the heavyweight belt once, was later stripped of the light heavyweight title and Jones beat Alexander Gustafsson in December for the vacant strap.
Jones is set to meet Thiago Santos at UFC 239 on July 6 in Las Vegas.