UFC commentator and former two Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier (22-3) admitted that the failed drug tests of his former rival Jon Jones (26-1) still haunt him to this day.
Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones had one of the biggest and most bitter rivalries in the history of the UFC. In the two fight saga that spun between 2014 and 2017, Jones won the first encounter via unanimous decision at UFC 182 in January 2015, defending his Light Heavyweight belt against DC.
The rematch, which took place at UFC 214 in July 2017, now had Cormier at the 205-pound helm. Even though “Bones” won the second encounter as well with a 2nd round KO, the verdict was later overturned after Jones tested positive for a turinabol metabolite, reinstating Cormier as the champion.
Daniel Cormier recalls Jon Jones failing two drug tests during their rivalry
During their rivalry, Jones was suspended for a second time in 2016 and was banned for a year by USADA as well as NSAC, which called off the original UFC 200 rematch with Cormier.
Recalling his former nemesis on The Pivot Podcast, Cormier said that while he muses on how their rivalries would have played out of Jones stayed clean, the failed drug tests still haunts DC to this day.
“He beats me, gets suspended for the first time,” said Cormier, “Next time, steroids, failed. Next time, steroids, failed. It’s like every time we fight, and you get suspended, if we go through the interaction, and you won the fight, that memory does not disappear.”
“Even though they said it’s a no contest, (they) saw (me) lose. It’s the truth. All he gets is time. Jon Jones even then was making probably $5 million. So Jon Jones, 2017, fights me in Anaheim, wins the fight, gets that ‘and new champion’ from beating me. (Afterward) they find out he tests positive for steroids,” the 43-year-old went on, “They say, ‘Oh man, he’s suspended for 18 months.’ Now you get 18 months, (but) you still got your money. And you’re still only 25, 26 years old. I’m 37, 38 years old. You’re 27, and you get a year off. It’s horrible, but it’s easy for him to say water under the bridge. But for me, it’s like, ‘Man, you did some stuff to my career that never let me settle, because now I don’t know.’”
“I could know through the fights that maybe this dude is just better than me, but I also know that if you’re not doing the things that are boosting you, can you really work to the level that I’m working? … I can’t let it go. He’s a cheater,” DC added. [H/T MMA Junkie]
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