When it comes to debating the greatest of all time MMA fighters, Jon Jones’ name is almost always in the mix. But for Daniel Cormier, his longtime rival and two-time opponent, there’s one reason Jones can never be considered the GOAT: steroids.
During a recent sit-down with Shannon Sharpe, Cormier addressed the “elephant in the room” head-on, pointing out that performance-enhancing drugs fundamentally change the playing field in combat sports. Cormier faced Jones twice and came up short both times—one loss later overturned after Jones tested positive—and he stated that the issue was never just about talent, but about fairness.
Cormier admitted he never suspected anything during their fights, noting that Jones was always strong, big, and well-conditioned. But after learning of Jones’ failed test, the reality hit him hard.
“It was heartbreaking,” Cormier recalled. “I felt like if I couldn’t beat him, nobody else could. I had moved past it… but when it came out, it was like losing your first girlfriend. That’s how much it hurt.”
Despite the bitterness, Cormier didn’t deny Jones’ extraordinary gifts. He even called him the most talented fighter the sport has ever seen—highlighting his size, length, skillset, and athletic pedigree. Still, in Cormier’s eyes, the steroid stigma disqualifies Jones from being labeled the greatest.
Instead, Cormier’s personal MMA Mount Rushmore features Demetrius Johnson, Georges St-Pierre, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and a fourth slot reserved for legends like Chuck Liddell or Randy Couture. For him, greatness comes not just from dominance inside the cage, but from doing it clean.
“He didn’t need to cheat,” Cormier said of Jones. “He already had it all. That’s where my biggest issue is.”
Source: Club Shay Shay
