The fact that Daniel Cormier can now be considered as a former fighter hasn’t stopped the fallout from his years-long rivalry with Jon Jones.
Speaking recently, Cormier announced that Jones can certainly be considered among the greatest fighters to have ever competed in mixed martial arts but that repeated run-ins with the sport’s drug-testing authorities rule out any conversation to be had about Jones being the greatest of all time.
“One of the most talented guys you’ll ever meet but again for me bad [drug] tests eliminate you from the conversation,” Cormier told MMA Fighting of his longtime nemesis.
Reacting to Cormier’s comments on Twitter, Jones defended himself against the accusations and reminded that he was found innocent of transgressions.
“With USADA you are guilty until proven innocent unless you are the GOAT,” Jones wrote on Twitter. “When you’ve been winning this damn long, you remain guilty, it helps people sleep at night.
“People will remember I was accused of steroids, they will also remember that I was proven innocent and able to continue with my career.”
DC you lost your last fight and then quit the sport 😂 Talk about being eliminated from the conversation 🥴
— BONY (@JonnyBones) November 16, 2020
People will remember I was accused of steroids, they will also remember that I was proven innocent and able to continue with my career. #Facts
— BONY (@JonnyBones) November 16, 2020
Jones has run afoul of USADA more than once. In 2016, he was removed from a scheduled fight with Cormier after testing positive for two banned substances (clomiphene and letrozole), and then had a win against ‘DC’ changed to a no-contest after an anabolic steroid was found in his system following the fight.
Jones has received two separate bans related to drug tests. Cormier, meanwhile, never tested positive throughout his career. He retired this summer after failing to recapture the UFC heavyweight title from Stipe Miocic — with Jones subsequently goading Cormier for stepping out of the sport with a loss.
Getting back up after being knocked down is a very hard thing to do. It’s easy to quit and just talk from the sidelines. DC has absolutely no leverage to talk about who is going to be a goat or not #facts
— BONY (@JonnyBones) November 17, 2020
I’ve lost many times throughout life, but the fierce competitor in me won’t let me go out with an L. Honestly that’s what I will remember most about DC. quitting on his fans, the sport, his legacy with an L. https://t.co/lYHncBU6TT
— BONY (@JonnyBones) November 17, 2020
A man who fell short now sits back and talks about what I can’t do, hilarious
— BONY (@JonnyBones) November 17, 2020
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