Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones was back on the big stage earlier tonight (Fri., Nov. 2, 2018) for UFC 232’s first official press conference (video replay here) in New York City.
Before nearly inciting a brawl during a staredown with Alexander Gustafsson, who Jones will fight for the 205-pound title at UFC 232 on Dec. 29 from Las Vegas, “Bones” was given the microphone and an opportunity to speak.
One of the questions thrown at Jones was whether or not he’d welcome rival Daniel Cormier back to 205 pounds if “DC” lost his heavyweight title to Derrick Lewis this weekend at UFC 230. Cormier, who is expected to be stripped of his light heavyweight title in order for Jones and Gustafsson to rematch for gold, recently threatened to sabotage UFC 232’s title fight by dropping back down to light heavyweight and defending the belt himself.
Jones, who has defeated Cormier twice before only to have one victory overturned to a no contest following a failed drug test, wasted no time taking shots at “DC.”
“Defend the belt that was never his?” questioned Jones, who never officially lost his UFC light heavyweight title inside of the Octagon. “I don’t understand how that works.
“If Daniel Cormier wants to come back down to light heavyweight he’ll challenge one of the contenders for my belt.”
When asked why he wouldn’t be open to a light heavyweight trilogy fight with Cormier, Jones quickly reminded fight fans what happened last time the two met at UFC 214.
“There’s no reason to grant him a fight, he got knocked out the last time we fought.”
As far as moving up in weight and fighting “DC” at heavyweight, Jones is open to the idea but really doesn’t see the upside.
“I would fight DC at heavyweight but I feel like I have nothing to prove. I’ve beat him twice,” said Jones. “I feel like fighting him at heavyweight is putting all the cards in his favor, I have nothing to prove against Daniel Cormier.
“I always say a lot of this fighting is not personal to me, my goals are just to be great, it is not about these individuals rivals,” Jones continued. “So, me challenging Daniel Cormier would make it a personal thing. If he had beat me I could see me challenging. I have done enough to that guy and I’ll let him breath easy and enjoy his stuff.”
Only time will tell how this entire thing plays out. Cormier is a heavy favorite to successfully defend his heavyweight strap tomorrow night at UFC 230 — essentially lining up a superfight with Brock Lesnar next year — but Lewis is always one punch away from ending any fight.
If “Black Beast” is able to pull off the impossible and take away Cormier’s heavyweight crown, things may get really interesting at 205 pounds.