Just one week after UFC heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier
threw cold water on the possibility of a third fight with Jon Jones, the other half of the rivalry has now responded.
Taking to social media, Jones acknowledged he has no interest in moving up to the heavyweight division to take on Cormier. Nor does he imagine a scenerio in which Cormier, at this point in his career (nearing retirement), cuts weight to get back down to the light heavyweight level. Of course, he added a little jab in his tweets as well, saying Cormier doesn't want to "reface those nightmares that comes when facing the beast."
“I’ve been the light heavyweight champion for almost my entire MMA career, never have I moved up to challenge a heavyweight champion. I’m simply not interested in it right now, never seriously have been,” Jones wrote on Twitter.
“I feel like the move is inevitable but as of right now, I’m dominating fights and making weight just fine."
“Daniel and I, not [rivalry], but beef started at the light heavyweight division and that’s where it should end, even though I could’ve sworn I ended this once or twice already," he added.
"Despite what he says to the media, I will guarantee you guys there will be no third fight. No way he will lose that weight again, no way he will be willing to reface those nightmares that comes when facing the beast.”
Cormier and Jones have met twice before in the Octagon dating back to 2015 when Jones defeated Cormier by unanimous decision at UFC 182 to claim the heavyweight championship. He was stripped of the title, however, for violating the UFC's Athlete Code of Conduct policy.
The two met again in 2017 at UFC 214, with Jones knocking out Cormier with a kick to the head to claim the light heavyweight championship. The results were later overturned to a no contest after Jones tested positive for turinabol and Cormier retained the light heavyweight championship; however, he relinquished it in December 2018 after winning the heavyweight championship earlier that year. Jones returned from suspension and won the vacant light heavyweight belt by defeating Alexander Gustafsson.
Jon Jones is coming off a title
successful defense against Thiago Santos at UFC 239, while Daniel Cormier will square off in a rematch with Stipe Miocic for the heavyweight title at UFC 241 this weekend. While the UFC would no doubt benefit between a third fight between Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones, it sounds like it'll be hard to work out logistically.