Cormier: I’ll fight Jones again, but on my terms
Cormier was asked about fighting Jones after his win at UFC 192 and said he would be happy to fight him again, but not in front of Jones’ hometown crowd.
It is very likely that former champion Jon Jones is returning to the Octagon sooner than later and will probably get a shot at the light heavyweight title immediately. Cormier was asked about fighting Jones after his win at UFC 192 and said he would be happy to fight him again, but not in front of Jones’ hometown crowd:
“Jon Jones is Jon Jones. I think he’s the greatest fighter of all time and when he gets cleared to fight, then we’ll fight, but I’m not going to fight him in New York so you guys can write that,” Cormier said.
When asked to expand on that statement by FOX Sports, Cormier explained that Jones is going to be under a lot of pressure when he returns and the last thing he deserves after his arrest and suspension is to have a hometown crowd on his side.
Jones hails from upstate New York and the UFC recently made its strongest push yet to get its first fight card in the state, announcing a show at Madison Square Garden in April 2016 while suing to overturn New York’s ban on MMA events.
“When Jones gets reinstated, New York is probably the only place that he’ll be welcomed without just, like, venomous anger,” Cormier said. “This is where he’s from so they will actually care for him, they will cheer him. Just like if you take me to Lafayette, Louisiana, no matter what I do, they will cheer me. Why should I allow this guy to go and fight where he’s comfortable?