Jon Jones is often hailed as one of the greatest fighters in mixed martial arts history, but Daniel Cormier was not pleased when comparisons to Michael Jordan were made.
While Jones is frequently part of conversations about the greatest of all time in MMA, Cormier does not appreciate the comparison to his longtime rival.
During an appearance on the Pound 4 Pound Podcast, Cormier expressed his frustration at a comment made by Kamaru Usman comparing Jones to NBA legend Michael Jordan.
“If you would have said that [Jones is the Michael Jordan of MMA], I was leaving,” Cormier stated. “No, he isn’t. I’m about to leave. You done with the interview? Do you just want to be done?”
Despite Usman’s insistence that Jones is MMA’s Jordan, Cormier explained why he sees things differently.
“Jon Jones has achieved a lot, but because of other issues, it’s difficult to elevate him to that level,” Cormier said. “If Michael Jordan was involved in illegal activities, we wouldn’t know. I can’t make that judgment.”
“There will come a time when someone else will be considered the greatest of all time, surpassing Jon Jones,” he added.
Reflecting on Jordan’s lasting legacy in basketball, Cormier noted that even exceptional players like LeBron James and the late Kobe Bryant are hesitant to claim they are better than Jordan.
Jon Jones the Michael Jordan of MMA?! 🤔 pic.twitter.com/92auBUgmey
— Pound 4 Pound (@pound4poundshow) September 26, 2024
Related: Jon Jones and Alex Pereira come to surprise agreement
Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier have a longstanding rivalry dating back to Jones’ dominance in the light heavyweight division, ensuring they will never see eye to eye.
Their feud is considered one of the best in UFC history, adding to the intrigue of their dynamic. Watch Daniel Cormier discuss Jon Jones and more in the complete interview below.
