The former rivals were at it again on social media recently.
The rivalry between Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones will go down as one of the most storied feuds in UFC history. The former UFC light heavyweight champions tangled twice inside the Octagon and once outside of it. Around each of their fights there was a laundry list of controversies and verbal spats. So it’s no surprise that, despite Cormier being retired these two just can’t help but beef with each other.
This latest round of trash talk began when Cormier discussed Jones prospects in the UFC’s heavyweight division. Jones is moving up in weight after vacating the UFC light heavyweight title, a belt he’s defended eleven times.
Specifically, Cormier bashed ‘Bones’’ punching power, saying: “Jon Jones will not knock out anybody (at heavyweight). He doesn’t hit hard enough. If he couldn’t knock these dudes out at 205 (pounds), he’s not knocking these heavyweights out.” (ht MMA Junkie).
Those comments elicited a quick response from Jones, who decided to remind Cormier of what happened when they re-matched each other back at UFC 214 in 2017.
On that night Jones beat Cormier with a head kick KO in the third round to unify the UFC light heavyweight title. On Instagram Jones shared a clip of Cormier’s tearful post-fight interview along with the caption, “haters gonna hate?”
Cormier, of course, fired back.
There is a difference punch vs kick, you’re still as dumb as you’ve always been, you’ll never surprise me. Dance for me, I can always make you move. And lastly , this fight didn’t count if you forgot there was an issue…… remember? https://t.co/JMP2lVXP9R
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) March 2, 2021
“There is a difference punch vs kick,” tweeted the former dual UFC champion. “You’re still as dumb as you’ve always been, you’ll never surprise me. Dance for me, I can always make you move. And lastly , this fight didn’t count if you forgot there was an issue…… remember?”
The ‘issue’ Cormier alluded is that the head kick KO win for Jones was overturned by the California State Athletic Commission due to Jones testing positive for turinabol. That test lead to Jones being stripped of his title. But he’d win it back a year later, defeating Alexander Gustafsson by TKO (punches).
It’s still not known when we will get a chance to see if Jones will be a success at heavyweight. It appears Jones is content to wait to see what happens at UFC 260 when current heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic defends against Francis Ngannou.