The last time Daniel Cormier saw Jon “Bones” Jones in the octagon, he lost. A lot has happened since that January meeting at UFC 182.
Jones has been suspended and later reinstated for his role in a hit-and-run accident last spring. In between, Cormier received the light heavyweight belt on an interim basis, Jones officially was stripped and Cormier defended it. He won impressive fights with the class of the division versus Anthony “Rumble” Johnson and Alexander Gustafsson.
But Cormier has maintained all along that he needs Cormier — both as a friend and a fighter. So it came as no surprise when Cormier declared his wish for his next title defense.
“I’m the champion now and I want to fight him,” Cormier said on “UFC Tonight” on Wednesday. “I am willing to give him a title shot immediately back into the UFC. It’s great for the fans, great for the organization because he is pound for pound the best fighter in the world.
“We should be fighting. He’s beaten everybody else — well, he beat me, too. I said from the moment we walked out of the octagon on Jan. 3, I would like to rematch Jon Jones. The circumstances have changed things now. Now it’s flipped: I’m the champion, he’s the challenger. But I think once they lock us back inside the octagon, we’ll make for some good business, we’ll make for some fireworks.
“I cannot wait to fight this guy again.”
Thumbnail photo via Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports Images
