Jon Jones: Daniel Cormier can be a full-time analyst after I beat him
Jon Jones wants nothing more than to take back his light heavyweight title when he returns at UFC 197, but he promises to leave Daniel Cormier with a career after he's finished with him.
It's no secret that Jones and Cormier have engaged in one of the most bitter rivalries in the history of the sport, and that tension ratcheted up a few notches last week in Las Vegas after they came face to face again at the "UFC Unstoppable" press conference.
Following that altercation, Jones addressed Cormier when speaking to FOX Sports about not only winning the belt back on April 23 but possibly even taking his opponent's job on the analyst desk when the fight is over.
"That's funny. No, I don't want to be a commentator at all," Jones said. "I love being an athlete. It's my main focus."
In actuality, Jones says he's happy that Cormier has a second career to keep him busy outside of training because that just means he's falling further and further behind when it comes to preparation for their showdown at UFC 197.
Jones doesn't want to promote himself or give his opinion on other fights if it means he's going to sacrifice time he could have in the gym.
So Jones is happy to let him keep that day job after he's finished with him on April 23 because Cormier will need something to fall back on after he realizes he'll never be light heavyweight champion again.
"I actually love that he's a commentator. More days he's out there in front of the camera, I just get time to hang out in the gym and get that much farther ahead of him," Jones said.
"Let him stay in the limelight, practicing for his career after I beat him."
As far as his own preparation goes, Jones is already in tremendous shape and he says he's only getting better each day in the gym while working under the 'iron sharpens iron' mentality that happens every day inside the Jackson-Winkeljohn facility in New Mexico.
"I'm surrounded by the best fighters. I'm testing myself against the best every single day and I feel amazing," Jones said. "I feel right on top of my game. It's going to show on April 23."
