Daniel Cormier can never be called Jon Jones’ biggest fan, but he admitted he respects him chasing after the heavyweight division’s most devastating knockout artist.
Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC), the UFC light heavyweight champion, has flirted with the idea of heavyweight before but has created a lot of interest after discussing the possibility of moving up to face top heavyweight contender Francis Ngannou.
Cormier has twice fought Jones in one of the most heated rivalries in UFC history, but that rivalry won’t stop Cormier from praising Jones for wanting to fight Ngannou (15-3 MMA, 10-2 UFC), who has steamrolled each of his last four opponents inside the first round.
“I will insult Jones on any day of the week, but I will also give him credit where credit is due, and I truly believe that this Francis Ngannou thing is one of the most gangster things in the world,” Cormier said on “Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show.” “Why would you be afraid of anyone, especially if you’re a guy that has the accomplishments of Jon Jones? Why? That’s the thing I don’t get when people say me or Jon Jones, that we’re afraid of somebody. It’s the most asinine thing in the world.
“I think that this Jones thing is cool. He’s like, ‘OK, you want to fight? Let’s do it.’ That’s what any person in the world, a true fighter, would do, and I think hats off to Jones.”
Jones has a line of light heavyweight contenders chomping at the bit to face him, including Jan Blachowicz and rematches with Dominick Reyes and Thiago Santos. But he appears to be diverting at least some of his attention to Ngannou as he continues to tease the possibility of moving up to face him.
Daniel Cormier: Jon Jones wanting Francis Ngannou 'one of the most gangster things in the world'
