Daniel Cormier believes that, despite Jon Jones’ accolades, there will always be an asterisk next to his name.
A longtime former light heavyweight champion, Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) became a two-division title holder when he submitted Ciryl Gane in Round 1 to capture the vacant heavyweight belt at UFC 285.
Jones defeated Cormier twice during his 205-pound title reign – one which was overturned to a no contest after Jones tested positive for a turinabol metabolite in their rematch. Jones also tested positive for estrogen blockers clomiphene and letrozole in 2016 after he defeated Ovince Saint Preux. In both instances, an independent arbitrator determined that Jones did not knowingly cheat.
But still, based on Jones’ past history with multiple failed drug tests, Cormier can’t consider him the greatest of all time. He insists he’s not bitter; he’s just always taken this stance.
“I think it’s hard to really argue the greatest of all time when Jones has now gone up to heavyweight and won the championship because of what he did at light heavyweight,” Cormier said on his ESPN show “DC & RC.” “This always puts me in a tough position, because I will always say guys that have bad things attached to their name should not be held on high.
“I think especially with the drugs and the steroid failures and those types of things. I think when you have those things, it’s hard to call you the greatest of all time. And I know Anderson (Silva) and all those guys, but I think (Jones) is in the conversation, because he’s become a heavyweight champion, and now he’s won belts in two weight classes.”
Not only that, but Cormier disagrees with the UFC now placing Jones as the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter.
“I don’t, for my opinion, believe he should be No. 1 pound-for-pound,” Cormier said. “I think Alexander Volkanovski should still stay there. I don’t think he should be No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world, but I have no issue with it if people have voted that.”
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