Daniel Cormier: Jon Jones and I will fight again

Late last month, in the main event of UFC 214, then UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier attempted to defend his title against his fiercest rival, former champion Jon Jones. Unfortunately for Cormier, Jones won this fight via third-round knockout, moving to 2-0 in their rivalry as he did.

Post-fight, Cormier suggested that, having lost twice to Jones, theirs wasn’t actually much of a rivalry. Despite this post-fight claim, however, Cormier announced on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour that he actually believes he and Jones will fight for a third time.

“Why would I stop fighting?” Cormier said when asked if he’d return to the cage. “I feel like I still love the competition more than anything. That’s really what drives me. When I don’t’ have competition, and I’m not involved in something like that, I’m miserable. I love to compete. I love to be in the environment. Not only am I going to fight again, but I do believe Jon Jones and I will fight again. I still have the desire to fight, and I believe that him and I will compete again before it’s all said and done.”

Cormier then admitted that the road to a third fight with Jones is not exactly clear:

“I don’t know exactly what path leads back to a fight with Jones, but I believe he’ll be the champion, and I don’t believe that anyone else in this division can compete with me,” he said. “So after I win enough fights, I believe we’ll fight again.”

“Obviously the Jimi Manuwa fight is a fight that could happen. Volkan Oezdemir has done fantastic for himself. If the easiest path back to fighting the fights that I want is to go through somebody like that, then I’ll do it.”

Do you want to see Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier fight for a third time?

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 8/14/2017.