No matter who Daniel Cormier fights or what he accomplishes from this point on in his mixed martial arts (MMA) career, the ghost of Jon Jones will always haunt him. After all, Jones is the only man to ever defeat “DC” inside of the cage.
As Jones continues his battle to clear his name under United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) persecution, the likelihood of the two light heavyweights fighting for a third time is becoming slimmer by the day. Jones has no timetable for a return and Cormier already has his hands full with a superfight opposite current UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic at UFC 226 this July.
Still, Cormier is eager to fight Jones one last time. Having already tasted defeated twice at the hands of “Bones” — most recently a knockout loss at UFC 214 that was later overturned to a no contest following a Jones failed drug test — “DC” is willing to put it all on the line again against a man he seemingly can’t beat.
“I want to fight Jon Jones,” Cormier told MMAjunkie over the weekend. “I do. I still feel I can win. I know that I’ve lost twice and last fight I got kicked in the head, but I feel like we were having a good fight, and I feel like every fight’s been good. I feel like if we fought a third time, it would be even better. I want to fight Jon Jones. That’ll never change.”
Cormier, 39, has defeated each and every light heavyweight that UFC has thrown his way other than Jones. That includes elite contenders like Alexander Gustafsson and Anthony Johnson, as well as quick-rising knockout artist Volkan Oezdemir, who “DC” finished via second-round TKO in his most recent title defense at UFC 220. But despite all of his accolades, Cormier would love the chance to avenge the only losses of his career should Jones be eligible to return.
“I thought (the door on a third Jones fight) was closed, but you asked me what I want,” Cormier said. “Is that a possibility? I’m not sure. But as a competitor, it’s what I want. You don’t always get what you want, but I feel like if we had the opportunity again it would be a good fight. But that’s what I want. If not, I’ll fight whoever. That’s what I’ve always done. I defended the belt against Volkan Oezdemir. He was the next guy, so I fought him.”
For now, Cormier will have to focus all of his attention on Miocic. The two will do battle in just three months in the first UFC matchup between the light heavyweight and heavyweight champion.
It’s a historic moment in MMA to say the least, and one that Cormier is participating in due to the irresponsible actions of Jones. That’s irony at its finest.