By Shawn Smith

We’re just two days away from UFC 210 in Buffalo, New York, where Daniel Cormier will defend his UFC light heavyweight title against Anthony Johnson, yet he still can’t escape talk of Jon Jones.

Cormier spoke with MMAFighting’s Ariel Helwani ahead of his bout against Johnson, sounding off on bitter rival Jones, referring to him as “very desperate” for having attended the festivities.

“It’s so ironic to say that I’d rather fight here (KeyBank Centre in Buffalo, New York; not far from Jones’ hometown) than in Madison Square Garden, but you can’t because you tested positive or because you ran over some lady or you did something to make sure you cannot do the one thing you want to do,” Cormier said. “It’s really not that hard to stay out of trouble. Yeah, I think it’s funny.”

Cormier said he was “very” surprised that Jon Jones would be in attendance at the event.

“If I was suspended for anything, especially for something whatever it may have said to be, there’s no way I’m out in public,” Cormier said. “I’m staying home, I’d lick my wounds until my suspension is done, and then I’d come back out. But I think that says a lot about your character. Because are you truly sorry for what you did if you’re really still willing to prance around even though you’re still actually under suspension?”

Jones was originally expected to fight at UFC 200 in July of 2016, but was suspended by USADA for an out of competition anti-doping policy violation. He is eligible to return to the cage from his one-year suspension on July 9, 2017.

“It doesn’t bother me, I just think he’s desperate,” Cormier said of Jones attending UFC 210 and taking part in after parties, media events and autograph signings. “Very desperate. He’s like the old quarterback that was super successful in high school, and he comes back to the parties with his jacket on.”

In January of 2015, Jones defeated Cormier via unanimous decision. The two were expected to rematch at UFC 200 before Jones’ tested positive for a banned substance.

While nothing is official, it is expected that Jones will fight for the championship when his suspension expires.

“They can’t talk to me about a fight with Jon Jones because he’s not eligible,” Cormier said. “When he’s eligible, we’ll talk.”