Cormier anticipates trilogy bout with Jones at Madison Square Garden

Daniel Cormier is already looking forward to his next fight after Jon Jones - which is a rubber match with Jon Jones.

The two best light heavyweights in the world are booked for a rematch at UFC 200, with Jones having defeated Cormier by unanimous decision in a title fight last January. Shortly after, Jones was stripped of the belt due to legal problems outside of the cage, and the vacated strap would be claimed by Cormier.

Now that it's Cormier entering as the defending champion, he's assuming that won't be the only thing that's reversed. Should he even the score with Jones, Cormier thinks their trilogy could rival that of boxing greats Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier - especially if it takes place at UFC 205 in New York.

"Jon and I will fight the third time, Madison Square Garden, main event," Cormier said in an interview with Jonah Ballow of NYKnicks.com. "Ali-Frazier, Cormier-Jones III."

Cormier has accepted that his rival will have home-court advantage, and he's not discouraged by the chilly reception he's been receiving compared to the last time he performed at "The World's Most Famous Arena."

"It's exciting. I competed here once in 2003, I wrestled in the (amateur wrestling) World Championships at Madison Square Garden and it was great," Cormier said. "At that time I was universally loved because I was wrestling for the USA, this time not so much.

"We're in New York, Jones is from New York, the response was good. As long as there's a response, that's really all that matters to me, as long as people are reacting, that's what I care about."

Cormier faces Jones in a light heavyweight championship unification bout in the main event of UFC 200 on July 9 in Las Vegas.