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Cormier: My career is not complete without Jon Jones rematch

Troy Taormina / USA TODAY

Daniel Cormier has accomplished plenty in his MMA career, but he still seeks closure when it comes to one particular chapter.

The UFC light heavyweight champion appeared on "The Herd" on Wednesday where he was asked if he still desires a rematch with rival Jon Jones in the future. Jones defeated Cormier by unanimous decision at UFC 182 two years ago, a title defense that would turn out to be his last as he was stripped shortly after due to his involvement in a hit-and-run.

Cormier would later claim the vacant title with a submission victory over Anthony "Rumble" Johnson.

A comeback in 2016 for Jones was cut short by a USADA violation that knocked him out of a rematch with Cormier at UFC 200, and Jones' subsequent suspension has put the feud on ice for now.

Jones is eligible to return in July and, as their schedules line up, Cormier wants to even the score with "Bones."

"My life and career would not be okay if I had to walk away and not share the Octagon with that man again," said Cormier.

He went on to say that he would accept a bout with Jones even if it was possible that Jones was taking performance enhancing drugs. The comments are a reversal from his stance last August in which Cormier said that he was no longer interested in fighting Jones.

Cormier is confident that the UFC's current drug testing policies will provide sufficient protection should the two men fight again.

"If that was the case before, then the guy that I'm going to fight the next time is not going to be the same guy I saw the first time because of USADA and the drug testing that we are under now," said Cormier. "... I would fight him. It doesn't matter. I have to get - the competitor in me, and my belief in my coaches and my skills, I have to get that back. I can't live with it."

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