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Nearing retirement, Daniel Cormier says he has no interest in a Jon Jones trilogy

A third fight for Daniel Cormier against Jon Jones would be fun for UFC fans, but it’s also probably not going to happen. (AP Photo)
A third fight for Daniel Cormier against Jon Jones would be fun for UFC fans, but it’s also probably not going to happen. (AP Photo)

Months from retirement, Daniel Cormier’s legacy as one the greatest mixed martial artists is basically set at this point. With a sterling MMA record of 22-1 and the distinction of being the only man to ever successfully defend UFC titles at two different weight classes, resumes like Cormier’s don’t come around often.

And yet, there is that one indelible blemish: Cormier’s record against his bitter rival Jon Jones.

Cormier has walked into the octagon 24 times and emerged as a victor 22 times. The two other times are when he fought Jones, the first being a loss by unanimous decision at UFC 182 and the second being a third-round TKO loss at UFC 214 that turned into a no-decision due to a failed steroid test from Jones.

Daniel Cormier shoots down Jon Jones possibility

With Cormier set to retire when he turns 40 next March and likely only having time for one more fight in his career, you’d think he might want to have a chance to finally beat Jones once and for all. In an interview with ESPN, Cormier indicated that couldn’t be farther from the truth:

“I don’t need [the Jones fight] anymore,” Cormier said on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show. “Sometimes you need things and sometimes you don’t. … I’ve come to terms with everything. Because he was gone so much, I had to remove myself from the situation so completely that it almost became not reality.”

It’s hard to blame Cormier for coming to terms with Jones just being a wall for him, rather than risk a third heartbreak that could also end his career. However, it still has to be disappointing for MMA fans who won’t be seeing what would have been one of the most anticipated fights in UFC history.

Jon Jones not interested in Cormier either

In case you were wondering, Jones isn’t chomping at the bit to fight Cormier a third time either. His reasoning is pretty simple: he feels like he has nothing to gain legacy-wise by beating Cormier a third time.

From CBS Sports:

“I would fight DC at heavyweight, but I feel like I have nothing to prove,” Jones said. “I have beaten him twice and I feel like fighting him at heavyweight is putting all the cards in his favor. I have nothing to prove to Daniel Cormier. I always say that a lot of my fighting is not personal. My goals are to be great, and it’s not just about individual rivals.

“Me challenging Daniel Cormier would be making it a personal thing. If he had beaten me, I could see me challenging him, but I feel like I have done enough for my legacy.”

So there you have it. Barring some kind of miracle, Cormier and Jones have already entered the octagon together for the final time.

Brock Lesnar likely to be Cormier’s final opponent

Even if Cormier and/or Jones were willing to fight each other, Cormier already has a high-profile prospective opponent lined up for his next fight in Brock Lesnar. He could even have two with Stipe Miocic, who would very much like to win back his UFC heavyweight belt.

It appears Lesnar will indeed be the final opponent of Cormier’s career. Following his second-round submission of Derrick Lewis at UFC 230, Cormier publicly challenged Lesnar to bring his WWE belt when they fight, something you don’t usually do if you’re not sure about your next opponent.

Lesnar is scheduled to be reinstated to UFC in January 2019, giving the two a two-month window between when Lesnar can start fighting again and when Cormier plans to call it quits. The fight figures to be one of the most high-profile bouts in UFC history.

Rather than go for Jones again, Cormier seems content to take the easier fight and still receive a massive payday. And, as Yahoo Sports’ Kevin Iole explains, that is a perfectly valid decision to make.

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