Lafayette’s Daniel Cormier Reinstated as UFC Light Heavyweight Champ
A couple of months ago, the UFC had one of its biggest bouts in a good while when Jon Jones defeated Lafayette native Daniel Cormier for the UFC Light Heavyweight title.
But for the third time of his career, Jones has been stripped of that title due to his positive steroid test following the fight.
The fight has been declared a no-contest by the California State Athletic Commission. And now UFC President Dana White has crowned Cormier as the new champion.
"Dana White called me today, and he said if it's a no-contest then the fight didn't happen," Cormier said.
“Now, people will say stuff like, ‘Well, you got handed the belt.’ He cheated, and the reality is, for me to say I don’t want this title when I was going to be in championship fight anyways, financially it’s just a big difference if I don’t fight as the champion as opposed to fighting for a vacant title. I’m taking the belt.”
As for Jones, he now faces a possible four-year suspension from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. His team has indicated they will appeal the positive tests, arguing that they were the result of a contaminated supplement.
Cormier agrees with the UFC's statement to reinstate him however.
“He disqualified himself by taking a steroid before the fight,” Cormier said. “So it didn’t happen. I get the belt back, which is the right thing to do. And I’m not only saying that because it’s me. It’s the right thing to do.