The back and forth between Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones continues, even if Cormier made it a point to say he wasn’t responding to his light heavyweight rival on social media.
Last week, UFC social media created a post asking if Cormier would become The G.O.A.T with a victory over heavyweight king Stipe Miocic at UFC 226. Cormier’s response: “I’m fighting these dudes at 39 years old and still getting my hand raised. So yes, put me in the conversation.” That drew immediate mockery from Jones on social media.
“If he’s in the conversation, does that make me the motherf—ing man?” Jones responded on Twitter.
If he’s in the conversation does that make me the motherfucking man? https://t.co/cEnNRayEus
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 20, 2018
Jones, of course, is the only fighter with a victory over Cormier. He outpointed “DC” in a light heavyweight title defense at UFC 182 and stopped the American Kickboxing Academy standout in the third round of their rematch at UFC 214. However, the second victory was overturned to a no contest when Jones tested positive for the anabolic steroid Turinabol. Jones is still waiting for a ruling from USADA on his anti-doping case. Jones also failed a drug test that resulted in his removal from a scheduled bout with Cormier at UFC 200.
Cormier recently did an interview with CBS Sports and addressed Jones’ derisive comments, comparing the ex-champion to disgraced cycling star Lance Armstrong, who was found to be guilty of doping during a dominant run in his sport.
“[Jones] doesn’t have a platform and I refuse to give him a platform,” Cormier said. “He’s a nobody. He has been suspended again. He’s mired in controversy for drug abuse. Your issues are tied to steroids, performance enhancers. You don’t get a platform when you’re like that. It’s like me glorifying Lance Armstrong.
“This whole Jon Jones thing has been marred in controversy and never on my behalf,” Cormier later added. “So I can’t let that dictate how I approach my career in any way, shape or form. I didn’t do those bad things. I didn’t do steroids. I didn’t get taken out of a fight for steroid abuse once and test positive for steroids a second time. I didn’t get, before the first fight, having rinky-dinky tests to start. There are so many reasons why I shouldn’t be tied to him anymore and I’ve gotten back to the point now where it doesn’t affect me.”
Those comments drew a response from Jones on Monday, who went make to Twitter to address Cormier.
“I don’t have a platform DC? That just sounds dumb. Even after years of suspension I have just as much if not more of a platform than you,” Jones wrote. “Every win you get goes on my resume. You know who you dream about at night. I’m sure your wife knows too.
“At first I thought you were trying to convince the fans I beat you because of performance enhancing drugs but now I’m pretty sure you have convinced yourself too. Keep doing that.”
I don’t have a platform DC? That just sounds dumb. Even after years of suspension I have just as much if not more of a platform than you. Every win you get goes on my resume, You know who you dream about at night. I’m sure your wife knows too
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 25, 2018
At first I thought you were trying to convince the fans I beat you because of performance enhancing drugs but now I’m pretty sure you have convinced yourself too. keep doing that
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 25, 2018
Cormier will square off with Miocic at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on July 7 in the UFC 226 headliner. If he wins, Cormier will join a handful of fighters to have ever held titles in multiple divisions within the promotion. Jones also had something to say about that.
“Good luck in your next fight,” he wrote. “I’ve always wanted to be heavyweight champ…who’s your daddy?”
Good luck in your next fight, I’ve always wanted to be heavyweight champ… who’s your daddy?
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) June 25, 2018