Daniel Cormier Shares Shocking Kind Words for His Former Rival Jon Jones
The idea of Daniel Cormier praising Jon Jones seems unthinkable given their infamous rivalry. Two high-stakes showdowns at UFC 182 and UFC 214, plenty of foul-mouthing and a Jones failed drugs test, left the two of them enemies.
But with their competitive history now behind them, Cormier finds himself acknowledging Jones’ extraordinary staying power as a UFC champion. Cormier has since retired, and earned a spot in the UFC Hall of Fame, while Jones continues to thrive as a two-division champion, most recently defending his Heavyweight belt at UFC 309 in November against Stipe Miocic.
DC seems to have put their beef to one side, sharing some rare kind words for the current Heavyweight champ.
DC Praises the Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones
Speaking with Ryan Clark, his former co-host on “DC & RC,” Cormier couldn’t help but marvel at Jones’ remarkable longevity:
“For me, DC, as a fan who started watching during the Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture era, and then moved into your era with Jon, we’ve always had these dependable champions,” Clark said during a reunion episode of the show. “Guys like Kamaru Usman, Alexander Volkanovski, Israel Adesanya — they defined their time. And now, we’ve transitioned to fighters like Ilia Topuria and Alex Pereira.
“But what’s incredible is that through all of this, Jon Jones is still here. We’re still waiting for the next big ‘Jon.’”
“How? How is that even possible?!” Cormier interjected. “This dude — no matter how you feel about him — how? I mean, I might not have vibed with him personally, but still, how? He first became champion in 2011. That’s mind-blowing. He’s spanned three generations of fighters.”
Jones first captured UFC gold at UFC 128 on March 19, 2011, by defeating Mauricio “Shogun” Rua for the light heavyweight title. Now, as we approach 2025, Jones remains a champion, but this time in the heavyweight division, with many calling him the G.O.A.T.
Clark pressed Cormier to explain the challenges of maintaining championship dominance in MMA over such an extended period.
“It’s almost impossible,” Cormier admitted. “Especially to sustain it for so long. That’s why watching guys like Usman or Volkanovski on their runs is so impressive — they make it look like they’re untouchable. The challenge is that while you’re on top, living in comfort and success, there’s always someone hungrier, someone who doesn’t have what you have. While you’re doing everything you can to stay the best, they’re doing just a little bit more because they’re chasing your spot. It’s like having someone relentlessly tracking you down. To stay ahead, you have to keep evolving.”
