Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
We’re just over two years removed from the last time Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier scrapped, and it feels like everyone is just about ready for the next installment. Everyone except perhaps Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones. Neither men sounds particularly enthused about another fight, what with Cormier looking to stick the landing on a retirement that will have him remembered as a heavyweight GOAT and Jon Jones busy cashing checks off the skins of green challengers.
But Dana White swears both men want the fight and so does the UFC. Perhaps this relaxed take it or leave it stuff has more to do with public negotiating than anything else. But on the eve of his next fight, a rematch with Stipe Miocic on August 17th at UFC 241, Cormier is sticking to that zen position.
“When it comes to Jones, I know now with all that I’ve accomplished, I don’t need that fight,” Cormier told MMA Fighting. “I’ll be fine regardless but it will be something we revisit, me and my team, my management and everybody else and we’ll see if it’s something we want to do. Ultimately it will be my decision.”
“Things are different. I feel like Jones is competing so many times because he has to try and regain the faith of the fans, but also retake his place in the sport and I did that. My place is secure with no question marks, no issues in regards in what I’ve done. It would ultimately be up to me to see what I want to do.”
Another definitive drubbing without a drug suspension follow up could change that, so we’re not surprised he’d be hesitant about stepping back into the cage with Jones … at least not without the financial compensation to make the risk worthwhile. But Cormier is ever the sportsman. Even after a first round knockout win over Stipe Miocic, he’s still agreed to run it back. Not for the money or fame because Miocic doesn’t generate a lot of either, but because Cormier is legit like that.
Nothing would put a bow on his career like a win over Jon Jones. So will he really be fine if he doesn’t take that shot?