Daniel Cormier might be getting over the loss, but he’s certainly not done with UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
Jones scored a unanimous decision victory over Cormier in the main event at UFC 182. The bout enjoyed a months long buildup that included a very public brawl, ‘leaked’ interview trash talk and countless hurt feelings.
UFC 182 was the most successful event for the company since UFC 168, estimated to have done somewhere between 740,000 and 820,000 pay-per-view buys.
Even now while booked in a hometown main event against Ryan Bader June 6 in New Orleans, Cormier is focused on Jones.
“There is no relationship between Jon and I,” Cormier told bjpenn.com. “He won. He won on January 3, but that’s pretty much all that happened. Nothing changed. Nothing will change and we will fight again. We’ll make sure the result is different.”
With no beef squashed and nothing personal settled during their five rounds together, Cormier says he can’t even be around the champion.
“We were in one place together since the fight and we didn’t really talk or see each other or anything,” Cormier said. “It’s whatever. I don’t really have any desire to talk to him or try to end things or anything. I don’t really want to be around him because I don’t know what’s going to happen, honestly. I can’t say that I would not lose my s**t if we were around each other.”
Cormier had previously mentioned that his title shot against Jones would prove to redeem a disappointing Olympic wrestling run, but now admits he put entirely too much pressure on himself to beat the truly undefeated champion.
“There’s no positive in losing,” Cormier said. “That’s fake. When people tell you that, that’s a lie. They flat out lied to you. There’s no positive in losing. There’s learning in losing. I feel like I’ve learned from that loss.
“I put a lot on myself to win that fight. When you feel like you can’t lose to someone there comes a lot of pressure. I put a lot of pressure on myself. I’m not going to do that again. I’m not going to put the pressure I did last time. It’s another fight. Doesn’t matter who it’s against. Doesn’t matter what it’s for. It’s just another fight.”
Counting on a win against Bader, Cormier says he won’t wait to start campaigning for another shot at Jones’ title.
“Not very long,” said Cormier. “I plan on mowing through [Ryan Bader] pretty good and I’m going to get back on that microphone and I’m going to scream at [Jones] again and tell him to fight me again. I said in that deal, ‘This is a wrestling tournament.’ I’m the kid who’s always in the bracket.
“I mean that. He won the first match. This is only the first week. We have to wrestle again. This is the BIG 12’s, there’s still the NCAA championships. This isn’t the end. We’re going to be constantly competing against each other. It’s only because him and I are are too good to stay separated. There aren’t enough guys in that division to keep us from each other. We’ll continue to compete against each other.”
5 MUST-READ STORIES
‘That’s the best he can do.’ UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo says he wasn’t fazed by Conor McGregor snatching his belt at the UFC’s press conference yesterday in Ireland. ‘Next time he’s in front of me, I will beat the sh*t out of his face.’
‘It’ll be done in one.’ Conor McGregor predicts he’ll stop Jose Aldo in the first round at UFC 189.
‘I’m coming to get you, too.’ Conor McGregor warns Rafael dos Anjos that’s he’s been added to his list. ‘When you speak my name in vain, no matter how many years down the line, I’m like an elephant — I’ll never forget.’
Huh. Ken Shamrock and Kimbo Slice will have to pass out-of-competition drug tests before they fight at Bellator 138.
Tough. The Arizona Boxing & MMA Commission has handed down an indefinite suspension with a “safety recommendation to stop competing” to a veteran fighter following WSOF 19.
MEDIA STEW
World tour embedded episode 8.
Dana White believes Aldo-McGregor does 1.3 million PPV buys and wants Jon Jones vs. Chris Weidman at MSG.
McGregor grabbing Aldo’s belt in Dublin and some thoughts from Bruce Buffer.
Donald Cerrone talking about buying a monkey.
Anderson Silva teaching the techniques he used to beat Dan Henderson, Chael Sonnen, Vitor Belfort and Tony Fryklund during a seminar in Rio de Janeiro.
Free Fight: Demetrious Johnson vs. Chris Cariaso.
Long watches.
UFC 189: World Tour Press Conference – Dublin (Part 2 here)
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TWEETS
The Tour is over and everything goes back to normal, the belt goes back home with me where it belongs. That clown can touch it and even buy a fake one, but he’ll never have the real thing! “I am the champion” I’m the greatest”
Acabou a tour e tudo volta como sempre é,a cinta volta pra casa pq,Eu sou o Campeão!!! The Tour is… https://t.co/L3QCGKvIS3
— Jose Aldo Junior (@josealdojunior) March 31, 2015
Even the pros are talking.
U gotta use the open hand slapp https://t.co/4gSFkj9zik pic.twitter.com/LByx211h1l
— Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) March 31, 2015
McGregor cracks me up. This dude is a damn fool lol. He snatched Aldo’s belt like a boss #UFC
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) March 31, 2015
I think Aldo is holding it together very well I love Connor but man I think I would have lost it if I was Aldo by now #UFCWorldTour
— Brad Pickett (@One_Punch) March 31, 2015
@TheNotoriousMMA took his belt like a gangster!!
— Cody Garbrandt (@Cody_Nolove) March 31, 2015
Well Conor is either crazy, a genius or a crazy genius
— kajan johnson (@IamRagin) March 31, 2015
If your a fan of the Irishman’s antics that says a lot about you and the kind of person you want to be
— David Michaud (@bulldawgUFC) March 31, 2015
Response to Chael?
I smile at some of the things these dummies say just to have attention just because they are irrelevant…
— Anthony Johnson (@Anthony_Rumble) March 31, 2015
Not for everyone.
This is for the people that wants me to “talk junk” in promoting, you can do it YOURSELF I will get my TITLE , I’ll never change who I am.
— Raphael Assuncao (@RaphaAssuncao) March 31, 2015
Get well soon.
Aftr many diff diagnosis,I did surgery tday! I shld v a beter ID next week on my come back… https://t.co/hfHhxNIQ6p pic.twitter.com/4CACrn5Zkb
— Tarec Saffiedine (@tarecfighter) March 31, 2015
Beef.
Gifts will be later , May 23.. sorry.. “@ufc: RT to wish @Cowboycerrone a Happy Birthday! #AnywhereAnytimeAnyplace pic.twitter.com/Qj67zwpVCU“
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) March 31, 2015
@edblackhouse thanks for the care package buddy. I just ran out of TP, good looking out 🙂
Guesses?
Looks like I have a fight lined up, hopefully I’ll be able to announce it soon! You’re gonna love this one @ufc fans!
— Stefan Struve (@StefanStruve) March 31, 2015
Best seller.
My brother the bear wrangler @teamkhabib #KhabibKnows @vcachero think we need a few more shirts sent… https://t.co/UgKUd7shxk
— Luke Rockhold (@LukeRockhold) March 31, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (March 31 2015)
Razak Al-Hassan vs. Virgil Zwicker at Bellator 137
Eduardo Dantas vs. Mike Richman at Bellator 137
Fernando Gonzalez vs. Curtis Millender at Bellator 137
Albert Tumenov vs. Hector Urbina at UFC 188
Igor Araujo vs. Sean Strickland at UFC Fight Night: San Diego
Gilbert Burns vs. Norman Parke at UFC Fight Night: Alves vs. Condit
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via Graham Douglas.
Greatest UFC Moment: Jones/Cormier vs. Aldo/McGregor.
I know right now I’m titillated with Aldo/McGregor and the stealing of the belt, but overall, I’m digesting if that was the greatest moment in UFC history.
The hysteria around the Jones/Cormier fight, not the official fight, but rather the fight at the press conference was a real monster event. It was the pinnacle of what fighting is all about. It was sheer madness. It was out of control. Jones screaming like a freak at the end said to me at the time, this is one of the greatest moments in UFC history. It was off the rails. Oh yes, how the UFC suffered from the bad PR right? It was unscripted and for that time in history, it was the envy of the combat sports world. Who wouldn’t want to piece of upcoming payday after that dust up?
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Check out the rest of the post here.
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