Jon Jones: ‘I had to find a place in my heart to be happy’ for Daniel Cormier after UFC 226

When fighters find themselves embroiled in heated rivalries, they forever end up intertwined with one another. Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier are no exceptions to that.

The history between the two is clear yet ugly all at the same time. Jones was the once ruler of the 205-pound division but due to his own doing, he no longer is able to compete as actively as we expected him to be doing so from 2015 to now.

The only UFC light heavyweight champion we’ve had since Jones is his bitter rival, Cormier who has since accomplished something no other man has. Not even Jones himself.

At UFC 226 in July, Cormier defeated the heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic to become the first fighter to ever hold the two heaviest division’s crowns of light heavyweight and heavyweight at the same time.

Obviously, there were some who immediately thought of Jones even though the night entirely belonged to the continually shadow-covered Cormier. In a recent chat with RT, Jones explained how he felt about it all as it happened.

“A part of me was upset at first. First, I was surprised. Then I became a little upset because Daniel Cormier was crowned the first heavyweight and light heavyweight champion and in my heart, I know that Daniel Cormier is not the light heavyweight champion, so it bothered me at first.

The next day after a few hours of being awake I realized I cannot be a hater. Someone else’s success has nothing to do with me. What God has for Daniel Cormier is for Daniel Cormier and what he has for me is for me, and so I had to find a place in my heart to be happy for him.

At the same time, I feel like when I come back into the game and get my light heavyweight championship back and become a heavyweight champion simultaneously, I feel like the fans will know that I’m truly the first heavyweight and light heavyweight champion.”

The 31-year old’s fighting future remains in question as he could be facing up to a four-year suspension from USADA after his most recent drug test failure in July 2017.

All we know for sure is that whenever Jones does return, he’ll be instantly inserted into the title picture whether it be at 205-pounds or above.

on 9/4/2018