Daniel Cormier threatened to walk out on a recent interview with Kamaru Usman after he made a bold claim about Jon Jones.
In a seven-year UFC career the former Olympian Cormier won world titles in two different weight classes, becoming one of the sport’s most decorated fighters.
During his time at light heavyweight, Cormier engaged in one of the most bitter rivalries in the promotion’s history with Jones, with the pair twice meeting inside the Octagon.
Jones emerged victorious via unanimous decision in January 2015 and got his hand raised in the rematch two years later by KO before a failed drug test saw the result overturned to a no contest.
While tensions between the pair have cooled somewhat in the ensuing years it’s fair to say that any kind of friendship is unlikely to ever be on the cards.
UFC legend Daniel Cormier threatened to walk out of a recent podcast appearance after the topic turned to his longtime rival Jon Jones
Kamaru Usman insisted the current heavyweight champion is MMA’s closest equivalent to Michael Jordan
As such, Cormier was incredulous regarding Jones during a recent appearance on the Pound 4 Pound Podcast with Usman and Henry Cejudo.
Usman first drew the ire of DC by claiming only Conor McGregor is at the same level of Jones in terms of ability to hand pick their opponents.
Cormier then interrupted: ‘I thought you were gonna say Michael Jordan or some crazy s*** like that.’
‘If you would’ve said that I was leaving,’ he added.
Usman then claimed that in his view Jones is the closest equivalent the sport of MMA has seen to the basketball legend, leaving Cormier furious.
‘No he isn’t, I’m about to leave, are you done with the interview?’ He asked.
‘Do you just wanna be done? So you’re telling me Jon Jones is the Michael Jordan and Lebron James of MMA?
Jones and Cormier famously engaged in one of the fiercest rivalries in the history of the sport
Jones got his hand raised in both fighters between the pair, though the rematch was later ruled a no contest
‘You’re gonna sit up here in real life on five cameras [and say that]?’
Jones is the current UFC heavyweight champion having defeated Ciryl Gane to capture the vacant belt in March of last year.
The 37-year-old is expected to make the first defence of his title against Stipe Miocic in November at UFC 309 despite calls for him to instead take on interim champion Tom Aspinall.
