[autotag]Daniel Cormier[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] actually go through with relinquishing the UFC light heavyweight championship.
Jones (25-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) is currently in a feud with UFC president Dana White over a discrepancy in pay that stemmed from Jones’ request for an increase to move up to heavyweight to fight Francis Ngannou.
White claimed that Jones asked for an absurd amount of money, which Jones denied and accused White of lying. Their relationship continued to sour over a period of days last week, resulting in Jones asking for his release and even suggesting that Dominick Reyes and Jan Blachowicz fight for the vacant 205-pound title.
The way Cormier views the situation, Jones already has tasted what it’s like without the belt after being stripped three times because of various troubles. Which means Cormier doesn’t think Jones would have an issue letting go of his title belt.
“I believe that he is more serious about walking away because in all those times that he was suspended and hurt and all that other stuff, gone, he kind of learned how to live without that belt,” Cormier said on ESPN. “For a long time he held the belt, but when he beat me the first time, for so long that when he lost that belt, he probably thought his world was ending.
“But then he was gone for two years, and life probably didn’t seem all that different. So he’s probably looking at life right now and understanding that, ‘If I walk away from this belt, is my life really going to change all that much?’ And I think that gives him comfort in being able to say things that he’s saying. So, to a degree, I do believe he’s serious.”
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Cormier, a former dual UFC champion and Jones’ most heated rival, knows a thing or two about being in a major fight, drawing big pay-per-view numbers in his two fights with Jones.
While he commends Jones for understanding his worth, Cormier sees the situation as a common issue in all sports, just handled in a slightly different manner in the UFC.
“You’ve got egos, right? Both of these guys have big egos,” Cormier said. “Not many people stand up to Dana White in this way, and Jon Jones feels as though he’s so valuable, that Dana White shouldn’t stand up to him in that way. It’s more public than normal, but if you think negotiations in football, baseball, basketball don’t resemble this, ‘Well, I’m walking away,’ and then they come back to the table, you’re insane. It happens at every level in every single sport, just not as publicly. It’s hidden behind a whole bunch of beautiful words.
“I don’t think he’s wrong. The guy really understands his value. He’s gonna stick to his guns. Good for you, but I also think this happens at every level and with every single sport – just not as publicly.”
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