I like Daniel a lot as a fighter and as a person but no, Dana
DC got a title shot after beating Starbucks employee Patrick Cummins and old man Dan Henderson. Tho I do consider the Hendo fight DC's finest performance, that was a relatively easy path to fighting Jon Jones for the strap
BUT.. His 3 defenses are legit. Epic fight vs. Gus, a second submission over Rumble Johnson, and a 3rd over a surging Volkan Oezdemir.. Those are good wins.
I know Jon Jones popped but it seems to me that Jon has his number. He is Daniel's kryptonite - Younger, more versatile, uses his reach extremely well, negates DC's wrestling, and seems to be renting an apartment in DC's head - I give the confidence and psychological edge to Jones as well.
Dana has to promote this fight and that's his job, but if you look past Jon's troubles, he is the lhw goat.