LAS VEGAS — Jon Jones called out Daniel Cormier on Wednesday, saying his light heavyweight rival has “a very punchable belly.”
Hours later, Jones took the biggest hit, with the news that a potential doping violation means he cannot fight Saturday night at UFC 200.
The announcement came swiftly and shockingly, as many people in Sin City for the UFC mega-fight hit The Strip for dinner. In fact, UFC president Dana White was sitting down to a meal at Mandalay Bay, according to MMAFighting.com, when he received the news about Jones’ potential failed drug test.
“It’s super, super disappointing,” White said, via UFC.com. “It was a brutal phone call.”
White’s next call was to Cormier, who long has feuded with Jones as they tussled for the UFC’s light heavyweight belt but refused to throw his rival under the bus Wednesday night.
“I’m just here to fight and try to be an example for kids to look up to,” Cormier said, via UFC.com. “If you do the right thing and be nice to people and care about people, people will care about you. I’ve made my mistakes. I’m trying to do things the best way that I can.”
And although Brock Lesnar’s three-round bout with Mark Hunt now is the UFC 200 main card, Cormier is holding out hope of finding a new opponent for Saturday.
“To hear something like this is very sad from a competitive and financial standpoint,” Cormier said, via UFC.com. “I don’t know exactly to explain how I’m feeling right now.”
Cormier later added that he was “very disappointed,” as did White, who has to deal with a major card change three days before arguably the biggest day in UFC history.
