NEW YORK – With Jon Jones expressing his reluctance to fight Daniel Cormier a third time, “DC” admits he’s a little disgusted with his bitter rival’s approach.

After all, while Jones (22-1 MMA, 16-1 UFC) did beat Cormier (21-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) in both previous meetings, the fact that one result was overturned due to a failed drug test leaves the current two-division UFC champion a little appalled that Jones claims “there’s no reason to grant (Cormier) a fight.”

“Giving me a shot?” Cormier asked following his UFC 230 win over Derrick Lewis. “Seriously – giving me a shot? Here’s the deal when it comes to Jones: It’s hard for me to really take anything seriously because you say, ‘I don’t want to give you a shot,’ and, ‘You don’t deserve it. I beat you.’ He said he knocked me out, which he did, and you guys know I’ve always said he won the fight. He once put like a video up of a little girl kicking a girl in the head. I said, ‘Look, man – she set that kick up perfect. But you were on steroids, dog. You can’t use that.’ It’s the same thing.

“I’m sure USADA said, whatever, but you still had steroids in your system. It does not matter. You can’t be on steroids in no way, shape or form. That’s not fair.”

Jones, of course, was flagged when a test positive for turinabol was returned following his UFC 214 win over Cormier in July 2017 and left him facing a potential four-year ban. However, U.S. Anti-Doping Agency officials recently announced a reduced suspension of just 15 months due to a “delivery of substantial assistance,” as well as an independent arbitrator’s finding that “Jones was not intentionally cheating.”

While Cormier understands the potentially mitigating factors involved with Jones’ latest out-of-the-cage fiasco, “DC” said the pattern of behavior “Bones” has shown throughout his career – including a previous failed drug test and a few run-ins with the law – makes it ridiculous for him to claim any sort of superiority.

“For him to say, ‘I don’t think he deserves a title shot,’ or, ‘I’m not going to grant him’ – who are you to grant me anything?” Cormier asked. “I’m the guy that’s been here this whole time. Three years I’ve been the light heavyweight champion because this dude can’t stay out of trouble.

“That dude actually got in so much (expletive) that they just said, ‘Here, DC, you can have the belt back’ last year after he knocked me out. Like, seriously, how crazy must the guy that won be for them to go, ‘Hey, man, you can just have this back, seriously, because we know with you, (expletive)’s safe. That (expletive)’s safe in San Jose. With you, it’s safe, but with this dude? Like, we don’t know what he’s going to do.’ So they just gave it back.”

Cormier has accepted, albeit a bit begrudgingly, the UFC’s decision to strip him of his light heavyweight title ahead of December’s UFC 232 event, where the winner of a Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson rematch will take control of the belt. With retirement seemingly looming for Cormier come his 40th birthday in March, he understands the logic, especially since he seems intent on chasing a heavyweight fight with Brock Lesnar for his final appearance.

Still, questions of a potential trilogy fight with Jones will likely arise time and time again between now and Cormier’s final trip to the octagon – and likely for some time after, as well.

Cormier doesn’t seem certain that Jones can keep himself on the strait and narrow long enough to even warrant any initial planning.

“I’m not sure if he wins in December and then gets in trouble again they don’t go, ‘Hey, DC, you want this thing back?’” Cormier said. “I mean, seriously.”

For complete coverage of UFC 230, check out the UFC Events section of the site.