Last week, the UFC social media team put out a post asking whether Daniel Cormier would become “The GOAT” by beating Stipe Miocic at UFC 226. That post kicked up the ire of Cormier’s chief rival, Jon Jones, who responded derisively on Twitter, saying that if Cormier’s “in the conversation” for Greatest Of All Time, then “Bones” must be “the motherf**king man.” Now, Cormier answered back.

Speaking to CBS Sports recently, the light heavyweight champion Jones’ comments, saying that he didn’t respond back because Jones is out of the game now and not worthy of responding to, likening Jones to disgraced sporting legend Lance Armstrong.

“[Jones] doesn’t have a platform and I refuse to give him a platform,” Cormier said. “He’s a nobody. He has been suspended again. He’s mired in controversy for drug abuse. Your issues are tied to steroids, performance enhancers. You don’t get a platform when you’re like that. It’s like me glorifying Lance Armstrong.”

Jones is currently serving a provisional suspension from USADA while waiting to find out how long he will actually be out after failing a drug test following his rematch with Cormier at UFC 214. Jones won the fight at 214 by third-round knockout, but after his drug test failure, was stripped of the title and had the win overturned to a no-contest. But Cormier believes that result, coupled with Jones’ other issues with USADA - Jones failed a drug test that removed him from a scheduled bout with Cormier at UFC 200 and resulted in a one-year suspension - is enough to cast doubt on the legitimacy of their first encounter, a unanimous decision win for Jones at UFC 182.

“[Jones] won the fight but, hey, since USADA has gotten involved with the UFC, he only fought one time,” Cormier said. “He has had four fights scheduled. So he fought Ovince and he fought me but that second one was a no-contest. The Ovince fight was the only time he fought and there was no controversy surrounding it. So I’m pretty sure there was some dirty stuff going on [in our first fight]. That’s why the test results were all jacked up in December.”

Cormier and Jones share one of the greatest rivalries in UFC history, but with Jones still out of commission, Cormier has moved on to bigger things, literally. In less than two weeks’ time, Cormier will attempt to become only the second man in history to win titles in two weight classes simultaneously when he challenges Stipe Miocic for the heavyweight title at UFC 226. Should he win, Cormier would have two belts do defend and a very short time to do it as he has stated unequivocally that he will by his 40th birthday. That means Cormier will likely never get the chance to avenge the only loss of his career, and at this point, he’s very okay with that because he has better things to worry about.

“This whole Jon Jones thing has been marred in controversy and never on my behalf,” Cormier said. “So I can’t let that dictate how I approach my career in any way, shape or form. I didn’t do those bad things. I didn’t do steroids. I didn’t get taken out of a fight for steroid abuse once and test positive for steroids a second time. I didn’t get, before the first fight, having rinky-dinky tests to start. There are so many reasons why I shouldn’t be tied to him anymore and I’ve gotten back to the point now where it doesn’t affect me.”

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MUST-READ STORIES

Results. UFC Singapore went down on Saturday and here is a recap of all the action.

Warrior. Donald Cerrone almost called off UFC Singapore main event due to illness.

Moves. Former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida signed with Bellator.

New rules. Alabama the latest commission to implement weight-cutting reform rules.

Remember. Michael Bisping recounts some of the best moments of his illustrious career.

Confident. Chris Weidman on Robert Whittaker: ‘That’s a guy I match up really well against.’

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VIDEO STEW

UFC Singapore post-fight presser.

Mickey Gall interview.

Jackson-Wink knows how to party.

TTTHS.

Khabib on maybe fighting Conor next.

So. Many. Free. Fights.

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LISTEN UP

6th Round. Immediate post-fight reaction to UFC Singapore.

Severe MMA. Discussing UFC Singapore, Lyoto Machida, and the latest in Bellator.

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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Pride.

Respect.

Kevin Lee wants GSP at MSG.

Barnett’s statement on leaving the UFC.

Big John killing folks out here.

FACES STARING!

Congrats!

The new Machida era.

Khabib knows.

Ruthless.

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Josh Parisian (6-2) vs. Greg Rebello (24-8); DWTNCS, June 26.

Jordan Williams (7-2) vs. Tim Caron (7-1); DWTNCS, June 26.

Chris Honeycutt (10-2) vs. Leo Leite (10-1); Bellator 202; July 13.

Darrion Caldwell (12-1) vs. Noad Lahat (12-3); Bellator 204, Aug. 17.

Logan Storley (8-0) vs. A.J. Matthews (9-7); Bellator 204, Aug. 17.

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TODAY IN MMA HISTORY

2011: Pat Curran submitted Luis Palomino with a Peruvian necktie at Bellator 46.

2017: Kevin Lee scored a controversial victory when he technically submitted Michael Chiesa with a rear-naked choked at UFC Fight Night 112. This was also, hopefully, the final time Hall of Famer B.J. Penn stepped into the octagon, losing a majority decision to Dennis Siver.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

And we’re back! The MMA Hour returns today at noon with Luke Thomas bringing in some quality guests to get everything firing on all cylinders once again. Hope everyone enjoys it.

Thanks for reading and see y’all tomorrow.

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EXIT POLL

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