Daniel Cormier (photo via UFC)

By FCF Staff

The light-heavyweight title is up for grabs tonight at UFC 232, but not because Daniel Cormier has been stripped of the belt.

Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson are fighting in the headliner of today’s card, which will determine the UFC’s new 205 champ. But, before Cormier could be stripped of the belt, “DC” released the following statement (via ESPN):

“Today I am going to relinquish the UFC light heavyweight title,” Cormier wrote. “I am not going to be stripped of the belt that I’ve defended with my all for three and a half years. Being stripped of a title suggests you’ve done something wrong, and I haven’t.

“I’d rather walk away this way, with my head held high as it always has been, than have the history books say I was stripped. I’ve defended this title this year. I was approached with the idea of fighting at heavyweight, so I took it. I fought three times in 2018. No champion has been more active than me. I am the fighter of the year. My story and my legacy will not include me being stripped of a title. They can have it.”

After Cormier won the heavyweight belt this past July, by stopping Stipe Miocic, it was announced he was going to defend that title against Brock Lesnar next. Since Cormier has repeatedly said he plans to retire next March, Jones – Gustafsson was made a title fight for the vacant light-heavyweight championship.