Cormier: I have to fight Jones again, PEDs or not

In high school wrestling, Daniel Cormier was 3rd at the NHSCA Senior High School National Championship. In college, he was 2nd at Div I nationals. In the world championships he won bronze, twice. At the Olympics he was the team captain but had to withdraw when his kidneys failed during a cut.

In MMA Cormier lost to then light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. When Jones was stripped of his title for fleeing the scene of an accident, Cormier won the vacated title. When Jones returned, Cormier had to withdraw with an injury, and Jones won an interim belt. When the two were supposed to fight for the undisputed title at UFC 200, Jones was pulled at the last hour over a failed anti-doping test.

Cormier has spoken about a sense that he never, quite, won the best on the planet. During a recent appearance on The Herd, Cormier said he has to fight Jon Jones again. The urge is so strong, he’s willing to fight Jones even if Bones is doping.

Honestly, when that whole thing happened in July, I would have fought him two days later,” said Cormier, as transcribed by Jed Meshew for MMA Fighting. It doesn’t matter. I just want to fight. I’m there to fight and because of our history and – I’m a competitor and I need to get back that. That means so much to me at my core that I’ve got to get it back. My life and career would not be okay if I had to walk away and not share the octagon again with that man.

I’d fight him… If that was the case before, then the guy that I’m gonna fight the next time is not gonna be the same guy I saw the first time because of USADA and the drug testing that we are under now… But yes, I would fight him [even if he were on PEDs]. It doesn’t matter. The competitor in me and my belief in my coaches and my skill, I have to get that back. I can’t live with it.