The main event of UFC 182 saw Jon Jones retain his UFC Light Heayweight Championship in a victory over Daniel Cormier by unanimous decision.
Jones handed Cormier his first MMA loss in a thrilling fight that was scored 49-46 in favor of Bones by all three judges. Fox Sports’ Mike Chiappetta logged what Jones said about Cormier after the win, which shows how intense their rivalry had gotten before they entered the Octagon:
Fans at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas couldn’t have been disappointed, as Saturday’s fight card lived up to the hype in producing five bouts that went the distance.
Below is an overview of the complete results, along with analysis on what the future likely holds for both Jones and Cormier as they prepare to take the next step in their UFC careers.
Jon Jones, Daniel Cormier Post-Fight Analysis
It is evident that Jones isn’t going to be intimidated by anyone. He talked a big game prior to the bout with Cormier, gave the former Olympic wrestler his best shot by engaging in close quarters and still emerged as the clear-cut winner.
Jones could go to blows with anyone, and it would be a must-see fight. However, a couple of potential adversaries stand out. A rematch with Alexander Gustafsson, whom Jones beat in the main event of UFC 165 in September 2013, is one intriguing possibility.
Gustafsson appears to already be angling for another shot at Bones in light of his assessment of the champ’s win on Saturday:
In the event that Gustafsson loses to Anthony Johnson on January 24, though, Jones brought up a superior alternative in the post-fight press conference:
Cain Velasquez is the current UFC heavyweight champion, and it would be interesting to see whether he would come down to Jones’ weight, or if Jones would try to take the title belt in the higher weight class.
What makes this even more tantalizing is the fact that Velasquez is an American Kickboxing Academy teammate of Cormier’s. DC could relay a considerable amount of intelligence to Velasquez if the star heavyweight decides to take on Jones.
If Jones were to come out on top against Velasquez, the rivalry between AKA and Bones would only strengthen, creating an excellent subplot in the UFC.
After Jones came out on top against Cormier, though, UFC.com’s Damon Martin is among those who feel the champ can clear any hurdle ahead of him:
Jon Jones is just ridiculous good. I’ve said for years DC would be his toughest test. He passed with flying colors. GOAT now. Can’t deny it.
— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) January 4, 2015
A triumph over Velasquez would only bolster Jones’ advocates in the conversation about the greatest fighter ever.
As for Cormier, he just has to make sure he gets back on track. Velasquez was there to embrace him after the loss to Jones (h/t MMAJunkie.com’s Ben Fowlkes), as DC was clearly emotional and crushed by his defeat.
It’s going to be a delicate balance for Cormier to face quality opponents who are still beatable and can help ensure another shot at Jones. Since he put so much stock into UFC 182, Cormier’s next step is difficult to discern.
The only man to defeat Gustafsson other than Jones is Phil Davis, so he would be an intriguing opponent for Cormier to consider.
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