Speaking on ESPN recently, Cormier responded to Jones’ reaction to Blachowicz’ win, saying that by teasing a potential return to 205 after vacating the title only a month after vacating it, Jones was basically admitting he was avoiding Dominick Reyes.
“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.”
In February, Jones and Reyes fought at UFC 247 in a close bout that a majority observers thought Reyes won. Those observers were not the three judges at cageside though, and Jones was awarded a unanimous decision victory, retaining his belt. In the aftermath, UFC President Dana White said that he too believed Reyes won and felt that a rematch was the next logical step. Jones, however, did not agree, preferring to finally make his move up to heavyweight.
And to Cormier, this all makes sense. Until Saturday, Jan Blachowicz had been almost an afterthought in the light heavyweight division, having lost five times over the course of his six-year UFC career. Now that Blachowicz is the the guy with the belt, that’s a much more appealing opponent than the young, athletic, 205er who arguably beat Jones the first time around. Especially since the attribute that has powered Blachowicz’s late-career title run, his Legendary Polish Power, is something Cormier thinks Jones is well-prepared for.
“If I’m Jones, I’m doing it,” Cormier said. “I’m doing it if I’m Jones. . . Jones beats Blachowicz. (He’s) is too slow to beat (Jones). The thing about Jones that people don’t realize 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, ‘D.C., 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.”
Whether Jones will actually return to light heavyweight is yet to be seen but for the time being, Jan Blachowicz is the king of the mountain, and despite everything Cormier said having an air of disrespect towards the Legendary Polish Power, he’s happy for the new champion.
“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.”
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[h=1]SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE[/h]Keep flexing on him.
“bRo tHe fiGhT is Ova, LeAVe HiM aLOnE!”
Spend your time in the gym wisely
If you planned more for the fight than this skit, maybe you might actually have...nah you still wouldn’t have had a chance @borrachinhamma pic.twitter.com/UbNkKrnfDz
— Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) September 29, 2020
I will be tuning in and happily be donating to to @DustinPoirier charity @thegoodfight on dec 12 #supernecessary
— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) September 29, 2020
Philosopher.— Jorge Masvidal UFC (@GamebredFighter) September 29, 2020
Being considered the People’s champ can be dangerous. It can cause you to lose sight of what it actually takes.
— BONY (@JonnyBones) September 29, 2020
Hero’s welcome for the new champion.— BONY (@JonnyBones) September 29, 2020
Wej?cie smoka @JanBlachowicz? Zaskoczy? wszystkich #LegendaryPolishPower pic.twitter.com/LJGH37tWBq
— TVP SPORT (@sport_tvppl) September 28, 2020
Hell of a guy.— TVP SPORT (@sport_tvppl) September 28, 2020
Flew back to Las Vegas with the still undisputed king of the middleweights and you won’t be at all surprised to learn that Israel Adesanya gave his first-class seat to one of his cornermen. Total package, that guy.
— Jon Anik (@Jon_Anik) September 28, 2020
Cejudo with advice to Borrachinha.— Jon Anik (@Jon_Anik) September 28, 2020
Motivational Monday. Embracing the pain. #listen pic.twitter.com/9cWLNKppnc
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) September 29, 2020
He’s not wrong.— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) September 29, 2020
I'd win but he'd get paid more.. https://t.co/VbN4j7CAmw
— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) September 28, 2020
Ngannou working with Teddy Atlas.— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) September 28, 2020
As suspected, not only big and powerful, but decent and smart. All the combinations to be a Champion. @francisngannou @Eric_XCMMA @Marquel_Martin #bang pic.twitter.com/INTuwzY0QE
— Teddy Atlas (@TeddyAtlasReal) September 28, 2020
Picking a fight.— Teddy Atlas (@TeddyAtlasReal) September 28, 2020
So I get off suspension November 10th @Ronsoff you want this skinny ass whoopin let’s do this at 155 on the 14th I’ll show you what salad and ice chips do @ufc @danawhite @seanshelby
— Luis Antonio Pena (@violentbobross) September 28, 2020
Would watch.— Luis Antonio Pena (@violentbobross) September 28, 2020
I didn’t just hop on the train I been doin raw dog for years
— Baldy Ed (@brianboom135) September 27, 2020
— Baldy Ed (@brianboom135) September 27, 2020
145 on fight island ? I wanna fight, you down ?
— Nathaniel wood (@TheProspectMMA) September 28, 2020
— Nathaniel wood (@TheProspectMMA) September 28, 2020
That wood be fun and I wood but I’m looking to fight in Vegas prob nov 7th. Woodnt ya know
— Baldy Ed (@brianboom135) September 28, 2020
— Baldy Ed (@brianboom135) September 28, 2020
[h=1]FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS[/h]Miles Johns (10-1) vs. Kevin Natividad (9-1); UFC Fight Night, Oct. 31.
[h=1]FINAL THOUGHTS[/h]I don’t think Jon Jones is afraid of Dominick Reyes, but seriously, how else do you interpret him saying he wants to get his belt back? And then he keeps trying to pick a fight with a middleweight. MMA is great because Jon should’ve had a publicist to corral his image a decade ago and instead he still keeps running out optic disasters like this.
Thanks for reading and see y’all tomorrow.
[h=1]EXIT POLL[/h]
If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @JedKMeshew on Twitter and let him know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram, add us on Snapchat at MMA-Fighting, and like us on Facebook.
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