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What's the story?
Leading up to the light heavyweight title clash between Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 232, the now-former 205-pound champion, Daniel Cormier, recently went on to relinquish his belt, ahead of the December 29 event.
In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, president of the UFC, Dana White, was seen calling Cormier out for being 'a little dramatic,' considering that 'DC' has now vacated his light heavyweight belt, in effect, making way for the new champion.
In case you didn't know...
Following his UFC 226 first-round knockout win against former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Stipe Miocic, Daniel Cormier went on to become the promotion's first fighter to hold both the light heavyweight and heavyweight belts, together, at one time.
Cormier successfully defended both his belts at UFC 230, in a heavyweight title fight against Derrick Lewis, who he beat via a second-round submission on November 3rd, 2018, at the Madison Square Garden in New York City.
After having served a 15-month suspension as a result of performance enhancement accusations, former Light Heavyweight Champion, Jon Jones, will be fighting once again for the title at the upcoming UFC 232 main event scheduled to take place at The Forum, in Inglewood, California.
Jones will be facing Alexander Gustafsson in what will be a highly-anticipated rematch between the two giants, given the controversial nature of their previous meeting at UFC 165.
The heart of the matter
In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, president of the UFC, Dana White, was seen commenting on Daniel Cormier's recent decision of relinquishing his title, ahead of the championship contest between Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson for UFC 232 main event.
White went on to have high praises for Cormier but said that he was, in fact being 'a little dramatic' when it came to parting from his 205-pound title. White said:
“He’s being a little dramatic right now. He’s being a little dramatic because of his hatred for Jon Jones. He would’ve never been stripped. He’s vacating.… I expect Cormier to be all fired up and on a rampage. He hates this guy.
At the end of the day he wasn’t being stripped of the title, he was vacating the title. It would never go down in history that he was stripped. ‘I’m going to get stripped and I didn’t do anything wrong.’ I told ‘DC’ a long time ago: ‘If you’re my champion for the rest of my career, I’m good with that.’ He’s one of the greatest athletes I’ve ever worked with, such a good guy.”
What's next?
UFC 232 is set to unfold at The Forum, in Inglewood, Los Angeles, California, to what will be a sold-out arena, with fans watching closely by Octagon-side. The UFC will be preparing to welcome its new Light Heavyweight Champion, come Saturday night, and the anticipation for the contest is soaring high.
Who do you think will walk out of the Octagon after being crowned the UFC's new 205-pound champion? Leave your thoughts, opinions, and predictions in the comments section below!
