Daniel Cormier expects Jon Jones to have success at heavyweight, but says he’ll be tested.
Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC), who reigned over the light heavyweight division for a decade including a pair of memorable bouts with Cormier, will seemingly try his hand at heavyweight. Since relinquishing his 205-pound title in August 2020, Jones has put on some size as he gears up for a 2023 return.
Having fought Jones twice, former UFC dual-champion Cormier knows first hand what it’s like to be in there with him.
“I think he’ll be fine,” Cormier told Chris Weidman on SiriusXM’s Fight Nation. “The guy’s a good fighter, very talented. I think he’ll do well at heavyweight.”
Jones has been linked to bouts with former champion Stipe Miocic and reigning champ Francis Ngannou, who’s currently healing from knee surgery and in the midst of a contract despite But outside of these two fights, Cormier sees other stern tests for Jones at heavyweight.
“Some of the matchups that he can be involved in with Francis Ngannou, Ciryl Gane, and Curtis Blaydes – it makes for an idea of some big-time fights,” Cormier added. “But not even him, (Sergei) Pavlovich after watching what he did to Tai Tuivasa and to everybody recently.
“There’s some dangerous fights for him, especially when you look back on his light heavyweight career and see how he struggled, at times, with bigger guys. So, I think he’ll be fun to add, but I think there’s some big-time matchups in there for him. But I think he’ll do fine.”
Jones hasn’t competed since edging out Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 in February 2020. He defended his light heavyweight title 11 times overall and eight straight times in his first reign.
Daniel Cormier: Jon Jones a fun addition to heavyweight and ‘there’s some big-time matchups’