UFC: Daniel Cormier Accuses Jon Jones Of Ducking Dominick Reyes
This past weekend at UFC 253, the light heavyweight division crowned a new champion. And for the first time in more than nine years, the champion isn’t called Jon Jones or Daniel Cormier. Jan Blachowicz showed his legendary ‘Polish Power’ against the favourite Dominic Reyes, finishing him by the way of TKO in the second round.
The opportunity for these two fighters to meet for the undisputed title was presented when Jones vacated the light heavyweight title last month, announcing that he was moving up to heavyweight. Immediately after Blachowicz won however, the former champion took to social media to tease of a return light heavyweight to recapture the title from the Polish 37 year old.
Jones’ former foe Cormier, believes that by ‘Bones’ hinting that he may return to 205lbs to challenge Blachowicz, it only confirms that he was afraid to face Reyes a second time. Their first fight at UFC 247 was razor close, with many believing ‘The Devastator’ won the fight.
“He’s Out Of Touch”
Speaking on ESPN‘s ‘DC & Helwani Show’ (as transcribed by MMA Fighting), Cormier accused Jones of being ‘out of touch’ for avoiding a rematch with Reyes but suggesting he’s open to fight Blachowicz.
“That’s so whack,” Cormier said. “Have you ever met a guy that’s so out of touch? He’s out of touch. It’s like, OK, Jon, then why not just go, ‘I was afraid of Dominick Reyes. Now I want to go back to 205 and fight Jan Blachowicz because he beat Dom.’ That’s crazy. Why would he do that? I mean, who does that? Who does that?
“He could have fought Reyes. This could have been him and Reyes. This was supposed to be him and Reyes. Instead, he gave up the belt. He gave up the belt and said, ‘I want to fight at heavyweight.’ Now, ‘Maybe, I’ll go back?’ How could you be so out of touch? I don’t get it. . . That’s your boy over there kicking people while they’re down and pretty much admitting, ‘I didn’t want to fight Dominick Reyes but I’ll fight Jan Blachowicz.’ That’s crazy.”
“Jones Will Pick Him Apart”
Knowing his bitter rival too well, Cormier isn’t surprised that Jones is considering coming straight back down to light heavyweight to fight Blachowicz, admitting that he would if he was the Albuquerque native.
“If I’m Jones, I’m doing it,” Cormier said. “I’m doing it if I’m Jones. . . Jones beats Blachowicz. [He] is too slow to beat [Jones]. The thing about Jones that people don’t realise he’s got a good chin. You can hit him. I hit him. A lot of us hit him. He can take punches, man. If Jan Blachowicz is out there and he’s too slow, Jones will pick him apart. God, I can’t believe it.
“Look, if I was still fighting at 205 or if I was still fighting today and you said, ‘DC, you can fight Jan Blachowicz,’ I’d probably fight Jan Blachowicz. No disrespect, just because I think… it’s surprising, right? When you have the footage of people getting old victories over him, you think you can do it, too. Any fighter does. And if you’re a guy like myself or Jones, then, of course, you think you can beat him. That’s why Jones will go fight him.”
Time will tell whether Jones will follow up on his words and challenge for his old belt but until then, Poland can celebrate its first ever male UFC champion. For Cormier however, he definitely won’t be returning to challenge Blachowicz.
“I don’t want to fight Blachowicz,” Cormier concluded. “I’m talking hypotheticals. You’re the man, [Jan] and you deserve it. The Polish Powerhouse.”
How do you feel a fight between Jon Jones and Jan Blachowicz would go?
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