On break, champ Daniel Cormier awaits Jon Jones because 'I do think about legacy'

Daniel Cormier

UFC champ Daniel Cormier is eager to take a break from competition after a 10-month stretch saw him fight three of the world’s top-ranked light heavyweights.

Cormier (17-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC), No. 2 in the NOS Energy Drink MMA light-heavyweight rankings, fought No. 1-ranked Jon Jones in January, No. 3-ranked Anthony Johnson in May and, most recently, No. 6-ranked Alexander Gustafsson.

The hectic schedule against elite-level opponents ended with two wins and one loss. Cormier dropped a unanimous decision to ex-champ Jones at UFC 182 before “Bones” was stripped of the belt and indefinitely suspended from competition in April.

With the title vacant, Cormier fought Johnson for the belt at UFC 187 in May. He earned the title with a third-round submission victory to become the first new champion in the weight class since 2011.

Daniel Cormier and Alexander Gustafsson

Cormier wasted no time recording his first title defense. He clashed with Gustafsson at UFC 192 earlier this month and retained the belt by split decision in a memorable “Fight of the Year” contender.

Cormier’s next title defense is expected to come against a returning Jones if and when his suspension is formally lifted. A timetable is unknown, and Cormier is fine with that, he said, because he’s not in a hurry to get back in the octagon.

“I have no idea (when Jones will be back); all I know is that I’m taking a break,” Cormier said on the “Anik and Florian” Podcast. “In 2015, I fought Jones, I fought ‘Rumble’ Johnson, and I fought Alexander Gustafsson. I fought the toughest guys the division has to offer – all in 10 months, at 36 years old. I need a little bit of a break. I fought seven times in two years in the UFC. I need some time to sit back and spend with my family. … I want to take a break, and I think I’ve earned it.”

Cormier was pushed to his limit by Gustafsson more than ever before at UFC 192. He was nearly knocked out in the third round and was forced to overcome exhaustion and plenty of blood to exit the thrilling 25-minute affair with the belt.

“DC” said he was aware of the stakes against Gustafsson. It was more than just the title. A victory was essentially needed to set up a future rematch with Jones, who is undeniably Cormier’s biggest rival because he’s the only one to defeat him.

“Everyone wants that fight,” Cormier said on Jones. “(Before UFC 192) I said, ‘Make no mistake about it: This is a sweepstakes to see who gets that fight against Jones.’ I just wanted to make sure it was me. I’ve long said that Jones is a guy that can really compete with me, and obviously he beat me. At this weight class I feel I’m as good, if not better, than everyone else, and I feel like I’m good enough to beat Jones.”

Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier

Cormier’s resume is among the strongest in the sport after defeating names such as Gustafsson, Johnson, Dan Henderson, Roy Nelson, Josh Barnett, Antonio Silva and more across multiple weight classes. Cormier said his goal is to go down as an all-time great, and he knows beating Jones in a rematch would have a significant impact on how he’s viewed in the history books.

“I do think about legacy,” Cormier said. “I’m going to fight, but let’s say the wheels start to fall off and I lose or I lose twice, then I’ll probably be done. My resume and my career and my legacy in this sport means more than just collecting some checks. I’m going to do it until I’m not competitiv,e and when I’m not competitive and when I’m not winning at the level that I’m winning now, I’ll walk away. Because yes, legacy does matter to me, and I want to leave a good one in MMA.

“I want to be regarded as the best guy in the world, and I want to fight the best guy in the world. When (Jones) gets back I want to be the guy standing across the octagon with him.”

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.