Daniel Cormier: Jon Jones will be very successful in move to UFC’s Heavyweight division

For as much as Daniel Cormier can’t stand Jon Jones on a personal level, the former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champ-champ has always been complimentary of his rival’s skills. And now that “Bones” is moving up to Heavyweight, “D.C.’s” opinion of Jones as a fighter haven’t changed.

According to “D.C.” — who knows a thing or three about fighting at both Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight — Jones has not only deserved the right to fight for the title straight away, but he’s proven that he will be very successful at 265 pounds.

“I think he’s gonna get a title fight,” Cormier told SCMP MMA (via BJPenn.com). “And I don’t see anything wrong with that. I think for all he’s accomplished over the course of his career, if anyone is deserving of an immediate title shot it’s Jon Jones. I do believe when he gets to heavyweight and he’s competing there, he’s gonna be very successful.

“I’ve competed with the guy on a couple of occasions and felt him and seen him and experienced his skill level, and I do believe that with the skill he possesses, with the fighting style, and honestly the guy is smart, he’s a very smart fighter in there,” Cormier added. “I think he can take that and it will translate to him being successful at heavyweight.”

Indeed, Jones defeated Cormier on two occasions, though his win at UFC 214 was overturned to a “No Contest” after “Bones” failed a post-fight drug test.

For now, the current plans are to have current UFC Heavyweight champion, Stipe Miocic, rematch Francis Ngannou sometime in March 2021 with the winner facing Jones later in the summer.