Cormier wants UFC to strip Jones of interim belt
For Daniel Cormier, there can be only one.
Since winning the vacant UFC light heavyweight championship in May, "DC" has battled to prove he's the undisputed king of the division, despite losing to Jon Jones in their lone meeting. Cormier was set to rematch Jones at UFC 200 on July 9, but news broke just three days before the bout that Jones would be removed due to a USADA violation.
The cancelled bout was billed as "Champion vs. Champion" with Jones having claimed an interim strap by defeating Ovince Saint Preux at UFC 197. That was Jones' first fight since returning from a six-month suspension stemming from his involvement in a hit and run, the same incident that prompted UFC officials to strip him of the belt Cormier now wears around his waist.
Now that Jones could be facing another lengthy suspension related to his failed drug test, Cormier told Brian Stann on the "Toe-2-Toe" radio show he's confused why the UFC hasn't officially stripped Jones of his title, and why president Dana White suggested Jones face No. 1 contender Anthony Johnson for the right to face Cormier.
"Now one thing I completely disagree with, completely - and I don't care who hears it - why in the hell would Jon still be the interim champion? That makes no sense. That makes absolutely no sense," Cormier said, according to MMA Fighting's Jed Meshew. "They should not be fighting for an interim championship. That makes no sense at all. I don't even know why he would still be the interim champion. His ass was disqualified. Take that freakin' belt off of him. That's stupid.
"I hope to God Dana misspoke, because that makes absolutely no sense. They aren't fighting for some interim title if they fight. They can fight in the main event because it's a big fight but it's a fun fight. If they fight, they fight to determine the number one contender it's not some interim championship fight. That makes no sense at all ... You'd have an interim champion defending the interim championship while the actual champion is actually still there. That makes no sense whatsoever."
Related: Cormier: I will not fight Jon Jones
Cormier also ruled out fighting Nov. 12 at UFC 205 in New York, explaining he needs 10-12 weeks of proper training to prepare for a championship bout, regardless of the opponent. He's targeting a December title defense.
"That's what I expect but you never know," Cormier said. "I haven't heard anything."