Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones snubbed one another as they named Alexander Gustafsson as the toughest opponent they've faced in their respective fighting careers.
Jones and Cormier have had a heated rivalry inside the octagon as the MMA legends clashed against one another at UFC 182 in 2015 and UFC 214 in 2017.
'Bones' successfully defended the light heavyweight championship against 'DC' at UFC 182.
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And Jones, 33, was initially awarded victory over his fierce rival in the second encounter, only for the result to be overturned to a 'no contest.'
Speaking ahead of his upcoming heavyweight title clash with Stipe Miocic, 'DC' explained why Gustafsson pushed him to the limits inside the octagon.
The 41-year-old former two-division champ said in a fan Q&A: "But, you know, Alexander Gustafsson, because on that night in Houston he took me to places I have never been.
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"I had cruised in five-round fights outside of Jones and I was beat up, I was battered.
"I was bruised to the point that the next morning I was laying in bed and my daughter, who at the time was four, walks in and goes, 'Dad, what's wrong?'"
Cormier, who has hinted he could complete a trilogy of fights with Jones, picked up a split decision victory over Gustafsson at UFC 192 in 2015.
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Jones has faced Gustafsson twice -- at UFC 165 and UFC 232 in 2013 and 2018 respectively -- and won on both occasions.
But the UFC legend aimed a dig at 'DC' when he named Gustafsson as his toughest test to date.
"Daniel Cormier is not my toughest opponent, I'd say Alexander Gustafsson was my toughest opponent," Jones said.
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"He's not this rival that the world wants him to be to me. He's a guy that I've beat twice."
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Jon Jones, Daniel Cormier, UFC News, MMA News, UFC, Alexander Gustafsson, MMA