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Nicolas Atkin

If you thought the bad blood between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier might disappear after the latter retired, think again.
The 41-year-old Cormier (22-3, one no contest) stepped away from the Octagon for good after coming up short in a unanimous decision defeat by Stipe Miocic (20-3) last August.
The UFC heavyweight champ was just one of two men to beat “DC” – the other, of course, being Jones.
Cormier had plenty of praise for “Bones” (26-1) last week, telling SCMP MMA he thinks the 33-year-old former light heavyweight champ deserves an immediate title shot after deciding to move up a division.


The former two-weight champ’s kind words didn’t seem to soften Jones’ stance towards his former great rival, however, with Jones taking a dig at Cormier on the six-year anniversary of their first fight at UFC 182, which he won by unanimous decision to defend his title.
“Stipe is your rival, I’m your superior,” tweeted Jones, simply.
UFC: Prochazka warns Adesanya of dangers at light heavyweight
Miocic beat Cormier twice, winning the heavyweight title back off him with a fourth-round TKO at UFC 241 in August 2019. Former light heavyweight champ Cormier had moved up and stunned the Croatian-American with a first-round knockout a year earlier to become the “champ champ”.
Jones also registered a second victory over Cormier, taking the 205-pound belt back in a heated rematch at UFC 214 after returning from a two-year doping suspension. But the third-round TKO was overturned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and the belt stripped from Jones again after he failed another drugs test before the fight.
The American returned in December 2018 to reclaim the light heavyweight title via a third-round KO of Alexander Gustafsson, after “DC” had vacated it following his move to heavyweight. In August, Jones did the same, vacating the title for his own move up.

And in a series of tweets on Saturday, Jones derided the notion he had “run away” from the 205 division following a controversial decision win over Dominick Reyes (12-2) last February.
“I didn’t leave the light heavyweight division to challenge myself, I ran out of fear,” Jones posted mockingly on Twitter. “I left the LHW division because I was terrified of Dominic [sic], even though Jan [Blachowicz] was guaranteed the next title shot.
“￼And then once the MW champ suddenly moved up, I knew I had made the right choice. Glad I decided to go the easy route.”

https://t.co/110UfBfLBn
— BONY (@JonnyBones) January 2, 2021

In March, middleweight champ Israel Adesanya (20-0) will challenge Blachowicz (27-8), who claimed the vacant light heavyweight title in a second-round TKO of Reyes at UFC 253.
“Just couldn’t see myself beating Jan, his style is like nothing I’ve seen before,” Jones posted in another sarcastic tweet. “And the thought of fighting a middleweight striker in 2021 was the final straw, figured Francis [Ngannou’s] takedown defence was worse, had to run.”


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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

UFC: Jon Jones mocks Daniel Cormier – ‘Stipe is your rival, I’m your superior’

Jon Jones kicks Daniel Cormier during their light heavyweight title bout at UFC 182 in Las Vegas. Photo: AP

ANAHEIM, CA - JULY 29: (R-L) Jon Jones knocks out Daniel Cormier during the UFC 214 event at Honda Center on July 29, 2017 in Anaheim, California. Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

UFC: Alex Volkanovski predicts Henry Cejudo returns in 2021 – ‘he’s chasing that pay cheque’

Former UFC bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo ‘sleeps’ with his belts and pillows featuring Demetrious Johnson, TJ Dillashaw and Dominick Cruz’s faces. Photo: Instagram/Henry Cejudo

UFC: Alex Volkanovski wants three title defences in 2021, starting in March – ‘get me in there’

Alexander Volkanovski celebrates after his split decision victory over Max Holloway at UFC 251. Photo: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

UFC: Jiri Prochazka warns Israel Adesanya of  dangers at light heavyweight – ‘he must be careful’

Israel Adesanya poses on the scale during the UFC 253 weigh-in on September 25, 2020 at Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Photo: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - SEPTEMBER 27: (L-R) Dominick Reyes punches Jan Blachowicz of Poland in their light heavyweight championship bout during UFC 253 inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island on September 27, 2020 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC)

July 12, 2020; Abu Dhabi, UAE; Jiri Prochazka of the Czech Republic punches Volkan Oezdemir of Switzerland in their light heavyweight fight during the UFC 251 event at Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island on July 12, 2020 on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via USA TODAY Sports

ONE Championship: Daniel Cormier says Marcus Buchecha ‘as talented as they come’, can thrive in MMA

Marcus ‘Buchecha’ Almeida and Daniel Cormier training at AKA. Photo: Brian Vega/@iamthebay

UFC: Jon Jones has ‘no intentions’ of ever going back to light heavyweight division

Jon Jones works out at the Jackson Wink MMA gym in Albuquerque. Photo: Instagram

HOUSTON, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 08: Jon Jones celebrates his win against Dominick Reyes in their UFC Light Heavyweight Championship bout during UFC 247 at Toyota Center on February 08, 2020 in Houston, Texas. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

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Jones takes fresh dig at fellow former champ Cormier on six-year anniversary of their first fight
‘Bones’ also mocks critics who claim he ‘ran away’ from light heavyweight division by vacating title



Jon Jones takes dig at fellow former UFC champ Daniel Cormier on six-year anniversary of their first fight, and mocks critics who claim he ‘ran away’ from light heavyweight division


Jon Jones

UFC: Jon Jones mocks Daniel Cormier – ‘Stipe is your rival, I’m your superior’

Jones takes fresh dig at fellow former champ Cormier on six-year anniversary of their first fight ‘Bones’ also mocks critics who claim he ‘ran away’ from light heavyweight division by vacating title

Jones takes fresh dig at fellow former champ Cormier on six-year anniversary of their first fight

‘Bones’ also mocks critics who claim he ‘ran away’ from light heavyweight division by vacating title