Khabib Nurmagomedov respects Jon Jones – but they could never be friends.
That’s music to the ears of UFC Hall of Famer, Daniel Cormier, who has been a mentor for ‘The Eagle’ since he first moved to the United States.
Daniel Cormier and Khabib Nurmagomedov were training partners with AKA
Nurmagomedov began training at the American Kickboxing Academy in California alongside Cormier when he signed with the UFC in 2012.
A UFC lightweight champion retired eight years after making his debut for Dana White’s promotion, winning all 13 of his octagon bouts and defended his lightweight belt on four occasions, infamously submitting Conor McGregor at UFC 229 in 2018, before retiring in October 2020.
He retired with a perfect UFC record after unifying the 155lb title by submitting Justin Gaethje and ended his career as one of the greatest – certainly in Jones’ mind.
Jones also included himself, along with Anderson Silva, Georges St-Pierre and Jose Aldo in the greatest-ever MMA fighters list when asked for his list in 2023.
“I never had any disagreements with Jones,” Nurmagomedov said when it was put to him. “As a fighter, he is great and it will be hard to match him.
“But my friend Cormier is in conflict with him, so Jones can’t be my friend. I don’t befriend those who aren’t friends with my friends.”
Cormier loved to hear it.
He said: “[Khabib is] one of my favourite people in the world. He is just the best and most loyal person you could meet.”
Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones will never be friends after their UFC rivalrygetty
Cormier battled ‘Bones’ twice during his incredible 11-year UFC career that ended in August 2020.
He lost via unanimous decision in the pair’s first bout at UFC 182 in January 2015, before winning the light heavyweight belt for the first time against Anthony Johnson four months later.
Jones was suspended by the UFC at the time due to a failed drug test and his involvement with criminal activities.
This led to UFC President White stripping Jones of his light heavyweight title and fining him for violating its Athlete Code of Conduct.
Cormier then embarked on a series of championship defences by claiming victories over Alexander Gustaffson and Johnson, again, in their rematch.
Jones would return to competition in April 2016, beating Ovince Saint Preux after five rounds to claim interim status in the 205lb division.
Over a year later, Cormier and Jones met in the octagon for the second time to unify the light heavyweight division.
Cormier conquered MMA, holding both the UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight titlesGetty Images – Getty
Jones knocked ‘DC’ out after three rounds, but the decision was reverted to a no-contest after the former failed yet another drug test in the promotion.
This meant Cornier was reinstated as light heavyweight champion, before he made the decision to step up to the heavyweight division.
‘DC’ became just the second fighter to hold two UFC titles simultaneously when he knocked out Stipe Miocic one year after his rematch with Jones.
He defended the heavyweight belt against Derrick Lewis at UFC 230, before losing consecutive bouts to Miocic and subsequently dropping his title
Jones made the move up to heavyweight after a three-year hiatus, submitting France’s Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023.
He now defends his belt against Miocic on November 16 for the main-event of UFC 309 in New York City.
Charles Oliveira takes on Michael Chandler at lightweight in the co-main event, while Bo Nickal continues his journey to championship status against Scotland’s Paul Craig.
