Daniel Cormier saw a huge opportunity evaporate when a knee injury forced him out of a rematch with Jon Jones at UFC 197.

Will Jon Jones struggle in his return to the Octagon? Daniel Cormier thinks so. (Getty) More

The current light heavyweight champion wanted to avenge his lose to Jones from last year and prove that the title that Jones never lost in a fight deserves to be around Cormier’s waist.

And if you ask him, the best opportunity possible to take advantage of Jon Jones is right now.

“I've never pulled out of a fight before and there was a lot that went into this decision,” Cormier explained on SiriusXM Rush about his initial resistance to pull out of the fight. “Because I truly do believe, and I think this is why it was so hard to actually make the call, because I truly do believe that right now is when he's primed to get beat."

But the reasons that Cormier proceeded to lay out had nothing to do with the legal troubles Jones has been facing over the past year. Instead, Cormier sees this as a potential test of Jones’ physicality considering he hasn’t fought in the past year, the new rules against rehydrating with an IV being in place and his lack of activity.

“Right now, I thought, right now is the time that he's ready to get beat if there ever was a time,” Cormier said. “So it made for a tougher decision because, in April of 2014 he fought Glover [Teixeira] and then he fought me in January and he hasn't fought since.'

Jones has only fought four times since September 2012 and at the age of 28 his body is changing and the weight cuts will become more difficult. Jones recently adopted a new weight lifting regimen and has put on a lot of muscle since being suspended last year. However, Cormier’s concern is that Jones' weight cut will be even more demanding and could lead to the former champion being in a weakened state when he steps into the Octagon at UFC 197.

“So the time away, first time not dealing with the hydration through IV, first time under such strict testing with USADA. All these factors play it to me like, ‘Man, I've gotta get him in the Octagon right now as I think this is the time that he's ready to get beat," he said.

Unfortunately for Cormier, Ovince Saint Preux will get the first opportunity to see how Jones holds up, as the two will compete for the interim light heavyweight championship on April 23. Cormier will meet the winner at a later date but is certainly not pleased with the fact that he’s sidelined for the first time in his MMA career.