UFC 197 Fight News: Jon Jones Questions Legitimacy Of Daniel Cormier's Injury
UFC 197 was supposed to be a rematch between light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier, and former champion Jon Jones.
However, Cormier pulled out of the April 23rd contest, after suffering a leg injury during training early this month. Instead, Jones will now be facing number six-ranked light heavyweight contender, Ovince Saint Preux, for the interim 205-pound title.
In a report by Bloody Elbow, "DC" suffered an interosseous membrane injury on his left leg. The timetable of his return has not yet been made specific. However, Jones is skeptical about his long-time rival's current condition.
In another report by MMA Fighting, "Bones" questioned whether Cormier was really injured, or if he is just merely hurt, without anything really serious.
"You know, it's hard to say. I wasn't there in the workout room with him when he got injured I'll say," Jones said. "But, there's been lots of rumors that he was hurt, not injured. And to drop the fight being 'hurt,' it just makes no sense."
Jones went on to also question Cormier's mental toughness, noting how the champion has often made excuses, as well as refusing to take a fight in New York, which is Jones' hometown.
"I don't think he's mentally strong enough to take that type of risk," Jones said of Cormier.
Cormier immediately offered his response to Jones' new verbal tirade. In a series of tweets he posted, the former Olympic wrestler brought up the time when Jones himself had to pull out of his UFC 151 fight in 2012 against Dan Henderson, as well as the time he pulled out of UFC 178 in 2014, their originally scheduled first fight.
"Ufc 151 we know how that played out. Our 1st fight. Jon got hurt. Ufc 187 we know that one turned out. Jon isn't one to question me. Better?" Cormier wrote in one of his tweets.
