With Dominick Reyes out of the immediate title picture, Daniel Cormier thinks fans can expect to see a light heavyweight return by Jon Jones.
Speaking on ESPN on Monday, Cormier, the former UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champion, discussed Jan Blachowicz’s title-earning victory over Reyes at UFC 253 and Jones’ tweets since.
Cormier took particular exception to Jones potentially hinting at a return to 205 pounds weeks after vacating the title, calling his longtime rival “out of touch.”
“That’s so whack,” Cormier said. “Have you ever met a guy that’s so out of touch? He’s so out of touch. It’s like, OK, Jon, then why not just go, ‘I was afraid of Dominick Reyes. Now I want to go back to 205 and fight Jan Blachowicz because he beat Dom’? That’s crazy. I mean, who does that? Who does that?
“He could have fought Reyes. This could have been him and Reyes (Saturday). This was supposed to be him and Reyes. Instead, he gave up the belt. He gave up the belt and said, ‘I want to fight at heavyweight.’ Now, ‘Maybe, I’ll go back?’ How could you be so out of touch? I don’t get it.”
Despite this, Cormier said it would be smart for Jones to return to light heavyweight and fight Blachowicz. If that fight were to happen, Cormier predicts Jones would win. Speed and durability would prove to be the difference makers, he said.
“(Blachowicz) is too slow to beat (Jones),” Cormier said. “The thing about Jones is people don’t realize he’s got a good chin. You can hit him. I hit him. A lot of us hit him. He can take punches. If Jan Blachowicz is out there and he’s too slow, Jones will pick him apart. God, I can’t believe it. Look, if I was still fighting at 205 or if I was still fighting today and you said, ‘D.C., you can fight Jan Blachowicz,’ I’d probably fight Jan Blachowicz. No disrespect, just because I think… it’s surprising, right?
“When you have footage of people getting old victories over him, you think you can do it, too. Any fighter does. If you’re a guy like myself or Jones, then, of course, you think you can beat him. That’s why Jones will go fight him.”
Jones, 33, has not competed since a February 2020 split-decision victory over Reyes at UFC 247. After a dispute with UFC president Dana White over pay, Jones vacated his 205-pound title in mid-August. He has since declared he will move up to heavyweight for his next fight – though he has hinted at interest in a 205-pound return, as well.
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