Daniel Cormier thinks there’s one man who can solve the Ciryl Gane puzzle, and it’s not UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.
Gane (10-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC), who captured the interim heavyweight title with a third-round TKO of Derrick Lewis at UFC 265, is expected to unify the belts with reigning champion Ngannou next.
No one has found an answer to the undefeated Frenchman’s slick footwork, technical striking and agility. But having competed and reigned over the UFC’s heavyweight and light heavyweight division for years, Cormier thinks there’s one man that can match Gane’s athleticism: former foe Jon Jones.
“This is crazy coming from me – Jon Jones,” Cormier said on his ESPN show “DC & RC.” “Jon Jones is the guy that will present the most problems to Ciryl Gane. Why? Because Jon Jones has fought at 205, Jon Jones has the skill of a little guy, Jon Jones has seen athletes before.
“Jon Jones beat me twice. I’m an athlete. He’s seen the speed, he’s seen the foot movement and the angles, he’s had to deal with guys like that before. Now can he handle that at a weight class above? I don’t know. But I truly believe that Jones is one of the guys that truly can give Ciryl Gane problems, but I don’t know who beats him. I think Francis has his hands full.”
Jones(26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) is yet to make his heavyweight debut since relinquishing his 205-pound title in August 2020, but he continues to actively work in the gym to bulk up into a heavyweight frame.
Jones recently dismissed the idea of facing former two-time UFC champion Stipe Miocic and appears dead set on getting a direct shot at gold once he can hash things out with the UFC on financial terms.
Daniel Cormier explains why Jon Jones ‘can give Ciryl Gane problems’