Anthony Johnson and Daniel Cormier agree that Jon Jones will have to get in line
LAS VEGAS — Jon Jones may be back sooner rather than later, but he's going to have to wait for a shot at the UFC light heavyweight title.
Current 205-pound champ Daniel Cormier and No. 1-ranked contender Anthony "Rumble" Johnson both agreed on Saturday night that no matter when Jones is eligible to return to action, he needs to get in line before he earns another title opportunity.
Jones is currently on temporary suspension following a positive drug test ahead of his last scheduled bout with Cormier at UFC 200, although he's recently stated that he may be able to return much sooner than first expected.
Johnson said that despite Jones' optimism, the former champion is going to have to wait because after knocking out Glover Teixeira in just 13 seconds at UFC 202, the title shot belongs to him.
"Daniel is beyond that, I'm beyond it. Daniel wants to fight me and I want to fight him. As far as Jon, he can sit back and wait," Johnson said following UFC 202. "That's nothing against him, but that's just what's going to happen.
"Until he's back, what's the point of even having a conversation about him?"
Cormier backed up Johnson's statement with his own on Twitter while pointing out the many missteps that have taken place when he's been scheduled to fight Jones in the past.
Won't fight jones next. I am fighting rumble. He's here. He's deserving Won't fight jones. https://t.co/YYpkLdmd8i
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) August 21, 2016
Or he won't show up. Something will happen. Been booked 4 times fought once. I need a break https://t.co/XRHkJOsyIG
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) August 21, 2016
This most recent disaster cost Cormier the chance to avenge a previous loss to Jones, so at this point he's moving on to the current No. 1 contender and putting his long-time rival in the rearview mirror — for now at least.
Cormier already faced and defeated Johnson previously when they first met in 2015, but since then "Rumble" has earned three wins in a row by knockout.
Now it seems like the perfect time to do it all over again and both Cormier and Johnson want it to happen.
"DC's a hell of a champion. It's an honor to fight him again. I'm looking forward to it," Johnson said about Cormier.
"This is my second chance at a title so I really want to go out there, I want to dominate. Daniel, he's said when we're in the cage it's Daniel time, which is fine. It can be Daniel time. At the end of the night, it's going to be my time."
