Daniel Cormier's time as UFC Light Heavyweight Champion ended on July 29 when he faced Jon Jones inside the Octagon at UFC 214.
Bones managed to reclaim the UFC Light Heavyweight title from DC in Anaheim, California almost three weeks ago when he knocked out his opponent with a head kick and punches in the third round of the contest, causing a stoppage.
Following the defeat, Cormier stayed relatively quiet, even struggling to find the right words to say during the post fight interviews with Joe Rogan inside the Octagon, as he had fallen to his longtime rival for the second time in his career.
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Jones respected Cormier after the fight for what he has done for the light heavyweight division while he was away battling his own demons and offered friendship to the 38-year-old fighter. While DC believes his efforts are genuine, he also thinks being friends would be difficult.
Cormier said on UFC Tonight on Wednesday, according to MMA Weekly: “I believe he’s being genuine. Yes, I do believe he’s trying to turn over a new leaf. I think he’s trying to show that he is a different person than he was in the past. With that being said, friendship would be very difficult for us to achieve because of our history. I’m OK with that.
“I’ve always said that. We don’t have to be friends. I have always respected him for the competitor that he is. I even congratulate him for getting the job done on July 29. In terms of going forward, we will be professional because we have to until the cage door closes again.”
Cormier is more focused now on coming to terms with the loss to Jones for the second time in his career, and deciding when and who he will face once he makes his return to the Octagon.
“It takes time to get over something that’s so big, especially when you’re unsuccessful in such a big event,” Cormier said. “But day by day you get better, you keep fighting, you keep learning that there are things that are much more important than the competition and you’ve got to try to get through it.
“I’m a guy that really does love what I do and I’m a guy that takes it very hard if I am unsuccessful and I think we saw that down at the Honda Center in Anaheim.”