Common Connection Behind Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier’s Success Gets UFC Legend’s Verdict

Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones could arguably be the most bitter rivals in UFC history, but what makes their rivalry timeless is that they were also two of the most dominant fighters to ever grace the Octagon. Their two fights defined an era, and even years later, fans debate not only who was better but also why both managed to stay at the apex of the sport for so long. Former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman believes the answer lies in one core discipline: wrestling.

‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ appears to be a staunch supporter of the fact that a fighter’s wrestling skill and the ability to control his opponent on the ground are the backbone of long-term success in the UFC. On that note, he first mentioned Jon Jones, who is known for his devastating elbow strikes. Kamaru Usman claims that his unbeaten record is a result of him mixing and matching his striking with his world-class wrestling skills.

“If you see a lot of champions and long-reigning champions that were able to defend and defend with the exception of a couple of hiccups in there, but those long-term champions, Jon Jones, tremendous wrestler,” Kamaru Usman stated on the Pound 4 Pound podcast. Claiming that Jon Jones could have been a force to reckon with in the wrestling circuit, he added, “People don’t realize how good of a wrestler Jon Jones actually was. I’m talking [that he] could have went to any Division I, could have been an All-American. Possible national champion.”

Then, the former welterweight champion gave Daniel Cormier his flowers as well. Not only was ‘DC’ an Olympian, but he also competed and collected accolades in amateur wrestling. His skills translated pretty well to the MMA scene, as he went on to become a double champion and ended his career with a 22-3-1 (NC) record in the UFC. “Daniel Cormier, Division I finalist or All-American… All the majority of the champions [are great wrestlers].”

Kamaru Usman may have praised both Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier for having incredible wrestling skills, but ‘DC’ doesn’t think the same way. In fact, the Hall of Famer claimed not too long ago that ‘Bones’ was always the best between them.

Daniel Cormier claims Jon Jones beat him at his best

In 2017, Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones fought for the second and last time. The outcome of the fight at UFC 214 was controversial as the fight was turned into a no-contest following a doping violation on Jones’s end. But despite that, Cormier claims that he was perhaps in the best shape of his entire MMA career. However, he still lost to Jones, and that performance from the consensus GOAT made ‘DC’ respect his biggest rival.

“I beat Stipe Miocic, I became the Strikeforce heavyweight champion, UFC light heavyweight champion. I was never better than that time in Anaheim [against Jon Jones],” Daniel Cormier stated in a video on YouTube. “That was the best I’ve ever been, and he beat me. And because of that, I will always respect him for his skills and what he did inside the Octagon.”

Jon Jones has remained undefeated for a long time, and while Daniel Cormier hung up his gloves years ago, ‘Bones’ isn’t quite ready to do that yet. He wants to fight at the White House, and we’ll have to wait to see how many more fights he competes in and if he can end his career with dominance. Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below.