UFC light heavyweight champion of the world Daniel Cormier has stated that he is not willing to take on Jon 'Bones' Jones at the latter's hometown in New York, as the champion feels it will send out a wrong message.
Jones was recently reinstated by the UFC after the pound-for-pound king got an indefinite suspension from the cage for his involvement in a hit-and-run case in New Mexico in April this year.
Now, everyone has his eyes on a rematch between Cormier and Jones for the title. The defending champion is also looking up for the challenge, but facing Jones in his hometown is not exactly Cormier's plan.
"I don't want to do it [fight Jones in New York]," Cormier was quoted by MMA Junkie as saying.
Many are assuming that the two 93 kg fighters could be set for the rematch in April next year, which is believed to be UFC 198. And the venue is presumably going to be New York's famed Madison Square Garden.
Rumours are also rife that the former UFC light heavyweight champion Jones will step into the octagon only in the landmark PPV of UFC 200, which is set for July.
Whatever it be, Cormier is just not ready to fight Jones for the second time after UFC 182 in the latter's hometown, as he feels chances of the same taking place look very bleak.
"I don't think he [Jones] should be rewarded after coming off of what he came off of," Cormier said.
"I do look at it and say New York fans are some of the most vocal fans in the world, so what if I have a whole bunch of people who are against what Jon did?
"Maybe it could work different, because there's no place in the country where, if you're considered a bad guy, they will boo you louder and let you know more than New York City. But the chances of that happening are slim, because he's from New York," Cormier, who hails from Louisiana, said.
