UFC 197’s Jon Jones: I'd be honored to headline MSG, but would Daniel Cormier?

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones welcomed a showdown with rival champ Daniel Cormier at UFC 205, but he’s not holding all the cards when it comes to his future.

Jones (21-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC), who later this month faces Ovince Saint Preux (19-7 MMA, 7-2 UFC) at UFC 197 in his first fight since being stripped of the title, said he’d be “honored” to headline the UFC’s long-awaited debut at New York City’s Madison Square Garden opposite Cormier (17-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) on Nov. 12.

But, he added, “The question is, would Daniel Cormier accept that fight?”

The previous answer given by the champ was an unequivocal no. After Cormier notched his first title defense this past October in a bout against Alexander Gustafson, he flatly said Jones, a New York native, shouldn’t be rewarded with home-field advantage after being stripped of the belt in the wake of a hit-and-run accident.

“I don’t want to do it,” Cormier said. “I do look at it and say New York fans are some of the most vocal fans in the world, so what if I have a whole bunch of people who are against what Jon did? Maybe it could work different, because there’s no place in the country where, if you’re considered a bad guy, they will boo you louder and let you know more than New York City. But the chances of that happening are slim, because he’s from New York.”

There were subsequent rumblings of a Jones vs. Cormier II headliner at MSG on April 23, the date which now hosts UFC 197 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena. But when the UFC was unsuccessful at suing its way into the “Empire State,” the idea died on the vine.

With New York MMA now legal, however, there’s nothing stopping the promotion from booking a rematch in the storied venue.

Contrary to Cormier’s expectation, there wasn’t much anger directed at Jones when the two sat opposite each other at a news conference for their ill-fated UFC 197 headliner. Much to Cormier’s chagrin, the crowd booed him and cheered Jones, who was reinstated after copping a plea deal that allowed him to avoid jail time (though he would come perilously close to losing his freedom later).

Jones, ever so happy to jab at his longtime rival, doesn’t think Cormier is any more willing to fight in his home state.

“Daniel obviously is having a lot of mental struggles when it comes to me,” Jones said. “That’s just one more thing that he doesn’t need. I’m sure he doesn’t want to fight me in my backyard, because he needs all the mental breaks he can get.

“But like I said, I’ll fight him wherever. Oklahoma State wrestling room, his living room, wherever.”

If you haven’t been keeping up on the ongoing feud, that’s an offer the ex-champ extended after Cormier’s win at UFC 192. As you might guess, Cormier didn’t take the bait.

We’ll see whether the champ takes it this time.

For more on UFC 197, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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