The rivalry between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier will forever be remembered as one of the greatest in mixed martial arts history, yet it leaves behind several unanswered questions.
What if Jon Jones hadn`t failed a drug test after their second encounter? What if they had met for a third time? And what if that potential trilogy fight had taken place in the heavyweight division, where Cormier once reigned as champion, instead of at light heavyweight?
Jones, who now holds the UFC heavyweight title, recently responded to a fan query during a YouTube vlog by Geoffrey Woo, addressing the hypothetical scenario of facing a prime Cormier in the sport`s premier weight class.
“Peak Bones against peak DC at heavyweight?” Jones pondered. “I believe I would defeat Daniel Cormier at heavyweight even more convincingly than I did at light heavyweight. My speed has adapted to heavyweight in a way I don`t think his did. I anticipate inflicting significant damage on him at heavyweight. My kicks carry more power now. While he might have hit harder as a heavyweight, my kicks are considerably more impactful. Remember what my kicks did to him in our second bout.”
Jones and Cormier faced off twice in the light heavyweight division. Jones secured a decision victory in the first fight at UFC 182 in 2015. The second meeting at UFC 214 in 2017, with Cormier as champion, ended via a spectacular head kick knockout by Jones in the third round. However, this result was later overturned to a no-contest after Jones tested positive for banned substances.
The no-contest meant Cormier retained his title. He successfully defended it against Volkan Oezdemir before ascending to heavyweight to claim the title from Stipe Miocic. Cormier defended the heavyweight belt once against Derrick Lewis but subsequently lost it back to Miocic in a rematch, and then lost their trilogy fight. These losses effectively extinguished any possibility of a third clash with Jones.
Cormier retired from competition in 2020. Meanwhile, Jones made the transition to heavyweight, winning the vacant title in 2023 with a swift submission over Ciryl Gane. He later defended the championship against Stipe Miocic in what would be Miocic`s final professional fight.
Jones reflected on the more challenging periods of his career inside the cage, crediting them with providing a unique source of motivation.
“I`ve felt the sting of defeat in moments where my fights were close,” Jones stated. “Alexander Gustafsson was the first time this happened. Some felt Daniel Cormier could have won our fights. Many people believe Dominick Reyes won that fight. When you have large groups of fans absolutely convinced you lost those bouts, it undeniably pushes me to make my next performance even more dominant.”
“On a personal level, I`ve never had a fight where I underperformed or didn`t get the desired outcome and then failed to return and perform exceptionally well. If you happen to catch me on an off day, rest assured that when I come back, you will witness my absolute best.”
Currently, Jones faces criticism for not yet committing to a fight against interim champion Tom Aspinall, who boasts a more extensive track record in the heavyweight division. Jones, despite his 38th birthday approaching in July, remains confident in his ability to deliver vintage performances.
“For instance, after the Ciryl Gane fight, some thought I appeared older, slower, not as fluid as usual,” Jones explained. “Then I returned against Stipe Miocic, and people commented, `That looked like the Jon Jones we used to see.`”
