UFC News: Cormier and Jones reignite war of words

What's the story?

Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones hold one of the most genuine and intense rivalries in the history of combat sports. However, ever since Cormier's move up to heavyweight in 2018, they have largely managed to stay out of each other's way and focus on dominating their respective divisions.

In recent days all that seems to have changed. Ever since Dana White suggested he would like to see the pair square off one last time, Cormier and Jones haven't been able to resist reigniting their old rivalry.

In case you didn't know...

Jones and Cormier first crossed paths at UFC 182 in 2015 - with both fighters undefeated and believing themselves to be the light-heavyweight King, it didn't take long for tensions to boil over.

DC and Jones just clashed on a personal level. Cormier is traditionally a respectful and sporting competitor, whereas Jones has a legitimate 'bad boy' persona. Ever since their first meeting at UFC 182, their careers have been intrinsically linked.

The heart of the matter

With White's indication that there may be a trilogy fight between these great rivals in the not too distant future - combined with Cormier's recent comments on whether he would take another fight with Jones before his imminent retirement - Jones took to Twitter to suggest that the ball is firmly in his court when it comes to a third fight with DC...

I’ve been the light heavyweight champion for almost my entire MMA career, never have I moved up to challenge a heavyweight champion. I’m simply not interested in it right now, never seriously have been.

— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) August 12, 2019

Despite what he says to the media, I will guarantee you guys there will be no third fight. No way will he lose that weight again, no way will he be willing to reface those nightmares that comes when facing the beast.

— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) August 12, 2019

As expected, Cormier did not take long to throw a jab straight back in the direction of Jones...

Of course he wants to fight me, he’s fought 3 times this year and I’m gonna make more this weekend than he will even if he fights again this year lmao. O, how times have changed!

— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) August 13, 2019

What's next?

Whether they like it or not, the MMA world will always see these two warriors as being fundamentally associated - you cannot mention Jones without DC, you cannot mention DC without Jones.

This weekend Cormier has the mammoth task of defending his belt against Stipe Miocic at UFC 241. Should he come out of that fight victorious, it seems almost inevitable that one of UFC's greatest rivalries may be run back one last time.