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Dual UFC champion Daniel Cormier is not messing around any longer after Yoel Romero’s particularly harsh comment earlier today.

Over the past 30 hours, a surprising feud between Cormier (21-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) and Romero (13-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) has gained traction, all starting with “The Solider of God” calling for the next shot at the UFC light heavyweight title.

Cormier issued a swift and sensible dismissal of Romero’s proposal, telling his fellow Olympian that “you don’t fail a class and then get moved up a grade,” in reference to Romero missing weight for consecutive title fights at middleweight. Romero came back with a direct reference to Cormier’s fights with long-time rival Jon Jones, and that caused the current 205-pound and heavyweight titleholder to fire back once more (via Twitter):

Hey @yoelromeroMMA here’s the difference between you and me: You’ve missed weight in your last two fights and I’ve won two belts in my last two fights. You’re also 0-2 in your last two title fights, boi #keepdreaming. And hey, get Malki off your Twitter. It’s embarrassing.

Shortly after, Romero’s manager, Malki Kawa of First Round Management, responded to the final portion of Cormier’s tweet (via Twitter):

Actually, I really didnt do that, I wish I could take credit for the response of the year, but I can’t.

After Cormier, 39, added the UFC heavyweight belt around his waist with a first-round knockout of Stipe Miocic at UFC 226, the dual champion said he would like to defend both belts but would only consider a return to 205 pounds for a “big fight.”

Romero, 41, proposed jumping up a weight class and fighting Cormier at UFC 230 on Nov. 3 in New York. The idea seemed unrealistic at first – especially with Cormier lined up for a date with Brock Lesnar early next year – but the ongoing beef with Romero could potentially change the circumstances.

Only time will tell, but Cormier clearly has no problem engaging Romero in a back-and-forth.

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