Daniel Cormier knows Jon Jones is a prizefighter, which is why he completely understands his old rival pushing for UFC to re-book a heavyweight title defense against Stipe Miocic.
Jones and Miocic were slated to headline UFC 295 this past November before Jones withdrew due to injury, and Tom Aspinall instead captured an interim title by beating Sergei Pavlovich. Typically in UFC, the interim champ would then get his shot against the divisional champ to unify the belts, but Jones has continued to focus his attention on Miocic.
While many fans have showered Jones with negativity for wanting a 42-year-old Miocic who last competed more than three years ago in a loss to Francis Ngannou, rather then the young, hungry Aspinall, Cormier gets why Jones is doing what he’s doing, especially with Jones claiming in deleted social media posts that he’ll make eight figures for the fight.
“If he’s making $15 million, he should be fighting Stipe Miocic,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “It’s almost like asking someone to win the lottery, but then say, ‘I don’t want the ticket.’ Of course he’s going to fight him if he’s making $15 million.
“If I’m Jones, I’m definitely fighting Stipe for $15 million. I’m telling you, I didn’t get that. I didn’t get that to fight Stipe. I’m telling you. I fought him three times.”
Jones and Cormier met in the UFC on two different occasions, with Jones winning both, although their second meeting at UFC 214 was overturned to a no-contest after Jones failed a drug test. Cormier ultimately regained the light heavyweight title, then added the heavyweight belt to his mantle after stopping Miocic in the first round at UFC 226 in 2018.
Miocic got his revenge by winning the next two bouts with Cormier, including a decision win that proved to be Cormier’s final bout at UFC 252 in August 2020.
After paying attention to how Jones is interacting with fans on social media, and how “Bones” has been addressing Miocic in those conversations. “DC” sent a warning to Jones — Miocic may not be in his athletic prime, but that doesn’t mean he can’t get the job done.
“He said Stipe is old — sounds like Jon Jones is wanting to fight the highest grossing fight with the least amount of risk,” Cormier explained. “But I will warn you this, don’t overlook Stipe Miocic. He is a f*cking killer, and if you overlook him, he will put you out.
“He’s just that good. 42, 35, 31, 38 [years old], don’t matter. Miocic is going to show up. It’s going to be a hell of a fight.”
