Cormier: Jones will return in 2022, lose to Ngannou or Gane

Daniel Cormier doesn't think Jon Jones' bid for the UFC heavyweight title this year will go well.

"I believe that Jon Jones will fight at heavyweight, and he'll fight for the belt. But he'll lose to Ciryl Gane or Francis Ngannou," Cormier said Tuesday on ESPN's "DC and RC."

Cormier, a former two-division champion who currently serves as a color commentator, fought Jones in 2015 and 2017.

While he doesn't believe that Jones, 34, is past his prime, he thinks Ngannou or Gane will be too much to handle. Jones' last bout was in February 2020 and he's never fought at heavyweight.

"It's not that Jones has gotten worse," Cormier added. "It's just that these guys are a different level of heavyweight."

Ngannou is scheduled to defend his title against interim champ Gane at UFC 270 on Jan. 22.

Jones, the former light heavyweight champion, has expressed interest in facing the winner.