Newly minted light heavyweight Daniel Cormier didn’t impress everyone with his quick stoppage of Patrick Cummins at UFC 170. According to 205 pound champion Jon Jones, Cormier’s short work doesn’t even get him a sniff at his title.
Telling FOX Sports he ‘heard Jones has the ability to say who he wants to fight,’ Cormier pleaded with the champ to be considered for a shot at the strap.
“This is a message for Jonny Bones Jones: Hey, Jon. This is Daniel Cormier. Bro. Brother. I’m asking nicely. I’m not aggressive. I’m not trying to be confrontational, Jon. I’m just asking, would you be willing to give me a chance to fight you. Please, Jon. Please, brother. Make the decision.”
In response, Jones laid out one chief reason why he doesn’t see it happening any time soon.
“My response to [Cormier] is: Hey, DC. I really respect what you’ve done with losing that weight. I think that’s extremely inspirational to a lot of people. It shows what type of heart you have that you’re willing to sacrifice those meals and get yourself to 205 [pounds].
“First and foremost, since you’re speaking more respectfully, I’ll say congratulations on your victory and your weight loss. But as far as giving you a title shot, I have no interest in fighting you right now, only because of the fact that you really haven’t fought anyone that I consider a top level fighter. I’m kind of sick of seeing UFC light heavyweights fight against kind of like ‘cans’ until they get a title shot. I really want to see a top contender fight a top contender and I think you need to fight someone a little bit more well-known than Patrick Cummins. Fight against Rashad [Evans], fight against somebody legit, man. Then I think it would be a little more appropriate to give you that title shot.”
With Rashad Evans out until the fall mending a torn ACL, Cormier may need to look at other options. Currently sitting at No. 5 in the rankings, Cormier needs to be Jimi Manuwa’s No. 1 fan this weekend. Should Alexander Gustafsson stumble against Manuwa in London, Cormier could leapfrog Phil Davis and Evans based purely on interest alone. With Davis set to face Anthony Johnson at UFC 172 in April, maybe someone like Ryan Bader makes sense. Right inside the top 10, Bader would at least seem to fit Cormier’s schedule, having competed at UFC Fight Night 33 just weeks before Cormier.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Cro Cop. Mirko Filipovic hasn’t forgotten what Fedor Emelianenko said about him not having ‘it’ anymore. “I like Fedor and I respect him a lot, but it’s not his job, it’s not his concern to act like my mother and to give any kind of advice, especially to me.”
Support for Gil. Gilbert Melendez says he’s received quite a few kind messages from fellow fighters regarding his new contract. “Everyone thinks I’m this millionaire or something now.”
Heartbreaking. Rashad Evans says he was crushed to have to withdraw from his bout with Daniel Cormier at UFC 170. “I really wanted to cry. I had put so much into the camp, and I really wanted to go out there and have a great performance.”
Mixed bag. Kenny Florian, Chris Lytle and others give their take on the proposed UFC uniform.
Bored. Jose Aldo says he’d reluctantly fight either Chad Mendes of Cub Swanson next, but sounds much more interested in Anthony Pettis.
It’s Tuesday, so make sure to catch The MMA Hour featuring Rashad Evans, Alexander Gustafsson, Gilbert Melendez, British broadcaster John Gooden, Kyle Kingsbury and The legendary Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic.
MEDIA STEW
Highlights from Bellator 110.
People ride bulls longer than this.
New Tommy Toe Hold.
In-depth with Gunnar Nelson.
Rest in Peace to catch wrestling legend Billy Robinson.
Jose Aldo got his own damn float at Carnival, golden Octagon and all.
Long watches.
Wounded: The Battle Back Home – Shane – Remember
Knuckle Up #428: TRT = DOA…BFD? Plus Bellator, Fight Night 37 & Jack Black
TWEETS
Could it be better than The Reem?
‘The Notorious’ out March 13th on RTE. Watch the build up to last years fight in Boston!! #TuneIn http://t.co/fCluB5WSZR
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) March 4, 2014
Buy shorts, get fights.
I promised to put up one of my fights from 2003 if 20 shorts sold,so here it is, i’ll put up another at 30&40 sold. http://t.co/IbKpnkjVnW
— Cole Miller (@colemillerATT) March 4, 2014
Sandbaggin’ SOB.
@FilthyTomLawlor @AmericanTopTeam @RichAttonito I already got it last year! It feels great around my waist… now STOP visualizing it! Lol
— Ben Saunders (@bensaundersMMA) March 3, 2014
Just need a welterweight.
Hard work today @travisbrowneMMA @TimKennedyMMA @JonnyBones pic.twitter.com/5FvlZOel6L
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) March 3, 2014
Thanks.
I’ll let you all debate politics and rankings. I know this: I live to fight and fight to live. Therefore, I am content. #nothingcanstopme
— Matthew Brown (@IamTheImmortal) March 4, 2014
The awkwardness of Bjorn is exquisite.
Watch “King Mo vs Rampage Jackson – Bellator 110 Scuffle Part 2”: http://t.co/sjIo4xkyk6 #WinnerTakesAll #LiveWithFire @Reebok
— King Mo (@KingMoFH) March 4, 2014
Interesting to see how it plays out.
I’m The @WSOFCanada Champion But That WORLD @MMAWorldSeries Strap Is What I Want & Who Ever Has It Just know I’m Coming For It & You. #GDUP
— Ryan Ford (@RyanFordMMA) March 3, 2014
Just a typical night out for Page.
We had a incredible birthday dinner hosted by @Rampage4real at @MastrosOfficial. Best B-day EVER! We pic.twitter.com/UztaLS0f2a
— The Winner Twins (@WinnerTwins) March 3, 2014
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Mar. 3 2014)
Tony Ferguson vs. Katsunori Kikuno at UFC 173
Matt Brown vs. Erick Silva at UFC Fight Night 41
Yves Edwards vs. Piotr Hallman at UFC 173
Tor Troeng out, Bubba McDaniel vs. Sean Strickland at UFC 171
Yushin Okami vs. Svetlozar Savov at WSOF 9
Junior dos Santos vs. Stipe Miocic at UFC 173
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via heavyfl0w.
Things That Made The UFC In Macao Enjoyable (And One Thing That Made It Suck, A Little)
Hey ya’ll. I have returned to my writing ways after taking February off to celebrate Black History Month. Actually, not really (though there’s certainly nothing wrong with learning about Chuck Cooper). I just didn’t have anything I wanted to write about. But now I do. Check the link out. I’d really appreciate it.
There’s no sense in beating around the bush …
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Holy shit. Hoe leigh shit. The Dongster has officially served notice to the rest of the welterweight division. He appears to be through playing games.
Dong Hyun Kim was one of those prospects that I actually followed before he made it to the UFC. And in those early fights, you saw a guy using his reach to punch guys in the mouth, and a superior top game to set up ground and pound. The thing was, he was mainly putting his hands on relatively overmatched Japanese guys. When he entered the UFC, his modus operandi appeared to be “I’m going to play it safe on my feet, find a way inside, and use my judo and superior strength to beat people up on top.”
…
Check out the rest of the post here.
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