Due to Strikeforce’s continual ineffectualness, Daniel Cormier won’t be fighting in the UFC anytime soon. But when he eventually does grace the Octagon, the former Olympian has already started working on a fallback plan in case his good friend Cain Velasquez is the reigning heavyweight champion, and he’s made no secret about it.
Cormier wants Jon Jones. Or, more specifically, he’d like to coach against Jon Jones on a season of The Ultimate Fighter, before challenging Jones for his light heavyweight strap. It’s an intriguing idea, no doubt. A cross-divisional match-up of top-3 fighters would likely save the struggling series from its record-low ratings.
For his part, Jones said he would be willing to coach on an upcoming season of TUF. But only against the “right opponent,” and apparently, Cormier isn’t that opponent.
“As far as Daniel Cormier saying he wants to coach against me, he would want that wouldn’t he?” Jones mused to ESPN UK.
“He’s relatively unknown. I want to do it when the fans are aware of both guys, and when it’s spunky and when it raises a lot of viewers. I’m not here to raise his stock.”
Looks like anyone anticipating a Jones-Cormier match-up should probably temper their expectations for the time being.
6 MUST-READ STORIES
Jones willing to coach TUF, not interested in Cormier. Speaking to ESPN UK, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones said he’d be open to coaching a season of The Ultimate Fighter, but not against Daniel Cormier. Explained Jones, “He’s relatively unknown, I want to do it when the fans are aware of both guys, and when it’s spunky and when it raises a lot of viewers. I’m not here to raise his stock.”
Hughes ‘fully retired.’ In an interview with the Iowa Daily Gate, UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes said of his current status, “I’ve not announced my retirement, but right now it looks like I’m fully retired.”
Rua vs. Gustafsson could be title eliminator. According to Dana White, UFC on FOX 5’s co-main event — Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Alexander Gustafsson — could be a light heavyweight title eliminator, with the winner potentially getting the next shot at Jon Jones, depending how everything plays out.
Shields’ win ruled ‘no contest.’ Jake Shields’ UFC 150 win against Ed Herman has been overturned to a ‘no contest’ by the Colorado Office of Boxing Licensure. Shields, who was hit with a six-month suspension after testing positive for an unidentified banned substance, was also fined $5,675.
UFC on FX 5 salaries. Jake Ellenberger was the top earner of UFC on FX 5, pocketing $84,000 for his co-main event victory over Jay Heiron, according to figures released by the Minnesota Office of Combative Sports.
TUF ratings sink to record low. Friday’s episode of The Ultimate Fighter 16 collected just 624,000 viewers on FX, marking a troubling new record-low for the eight-year series.
MEDIA STEW
Royce Gracie vs. Kimo Leopoldo. Keith Hackney vs. Emmanuel Yarborough. And the immortal Steve Jennum vs. Harold Howard. Yes, this is the complete event of UFC 3. And yes, this is why YouTube is amazing.
There’s not much to say here. This clip is about as touching as it gets in this violent sport.
(HT: Reddit)
If you’re at all interested in BJJ, do yourself a favor and check out the main event of last weekend’s Metamoris Pro pay-per-view. For the unfamiliar, this card was a little different than most jiu-jitsu tournaments. World class talent across the board, 20 minutes matches, no points, wins by submission only. And it was all capped off by this spectacular match between 22-year-old Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida and multi-time world champion Roger Gracie.
Looks like Daniel Cormier is eyeing a fight with Frank Mir on Strikeforce’s “stacked” January card.
Now that Eddie Alvarez’s contract is up, it didn’t take long for Dana White to start the wooing process. “We’re definitely interested in him and we have been for awhile,” White said after UFC 153. And after watching Alvarez’s remarkable final Bellator performance last Friday, it’s easy to understand why.
HE’S TAKING IT WELL
I guess I need to win a few fights and get some fans. Can anyone help me out. Ok no problem! DC
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) October 15, 2012
“@pwg112: @dc_mma please beat up Jon jones!” I am not known enough to fight him yet. A little more time and some more wins I guess.
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) October 16, 2012
“@pinto_ms: funny thing! He was relatively unknown when GIVEN the last minute opportunity that turned him into relatively known” exactly!
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) October 15, 2012
DON’T FORGET ABOUT THIS MAN
I’m ready and waiting. RT @aaron_mma: Do you think you’ll be on the January @strikeforce card or will your not be 100% by then?
— Josh Barnett (@JoshLBarnett) October 16, 2012
HENDO STILL WANTS IT
Agreed! I’m just sayin also.RT @adamswain99: “@iamgirlrilla: I’d like to see Hendo vs Jones (cont) tl.gd/jlikgp
— Dan Henderson (@danhendo) October 15, 2012
AND HE’S A DOCTOR? THIS GUY CAN DO ANYTHING
AMAZING pic of Anderson Silva and Fabio Maldonado at the hospital post-fight. Check this one out! twitter.com/MMAdamMartin/s…
— Adam Martin (@MMAdamMartin) October 15, 2012
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Monday, October 15, 2012):
N/A
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day sees jerry.tsui lay out the reasons why he’d: Rather see Anderson Silva fight Jon Jones than GSP
After Anderson Silva’s destruction of Stephan Bonnar last night, Dana White teased the possibility of an Anderson Silva vs. Jon Jones super fight. I find this fight to be much more appealing than the previously discussed Silva-GSP super fight for several reasons.
1. Anderson Silva is much heavier than GSP. Although Silva comfortably made weight for the Bonnar fight at 202 lbs, he routinely walks around at 215 to 220 lbs, while GSP walks around at 195 lbs. This is a major advantage for Silva in both size and strength. For years, GSP said that in order to go up to 185 lbs, he would need to bulk up further. He has been reluctant to commit to saying a move up would be permanent and there has been talk that the Silva-GSP fight would be at a 180 catch weight. Dropping an extra 5 lbs could potentially be a problem with Silva who has not fought below 185 in years. This is not taking anything away from GSP. It is more a case of the simple fact that Anderson would simply be bigger and stronger than GSP on fight night if he is able to recover from dropping 5 additional pounds he is not used to cutting.
2. Do fans believe GSP has a realistic chance of beating Anderson Silva? Silva has shown one weakness which is take down defense against a great wrestler and GSP fits that bill. If GSP can take him down, then Anderson will have problems. However, can GSP keep Silva down the way a bigger, stronger, and more experienced wrestler like Chael Sonnen did against Silva. If GSP can’t take Silva down, it will be a long night for GSP, with Silva holding the edge over him in the stand up game.
3. Anderson Silva has fought at 205 three times. Dismantling all 3 opponents in the first round. GSP has never fought at 180 or 185. Silva wouldn’t be going into unfamiliar territory in fighting Jon Jones. Again Silva walks around at 215-220 while Jon Jones walks around 225 to 230 lbs. Not as big of a weight difference and no mystery about whether Silva is big enough to compete at 205.
4. Jones is the greater challenge for Silva. When fans and MMA historians go back and look at Anderson Silva’s legacy, not fighting Jon Jones would leave a larger gaping hole than not fighting GSP. Win or lose, Silva will be remembered for taking on the biggest challenges in front of him. If he wins, he will be the only man to hold the 185 and 205 belts and cement his legacy as the greatest mixed martial artist of his era by a mile.
5. If he fights Jon Jones and wins, it doesn’t mean he has to stay at 205. Anderson Silva has mentioned not wanting to get in the way of his Black House teammates at 205. What if Silva won the title at 205, then vacated it to return to 185 lbs to finish his career? Even if he didn’t vacate the title, at 37 years old, he will only have a few fights left. Glover Teixeira and Lyoto Machida will just have to wait their turn.
6. Just my take that fans want Silva-Jones more than Silva-GSP. The match up would be on par with 1998 Michael Jordan vs. 2006 LeBron James. Ali vs. Mike Tyson. Ali vs. Joe Louis, and so on. Maybe the card that could top 2 million PPVs.
I hope this fight can happen and I believe Dana has at best a 2 year window to make it happen while Silva is still in his prime. Thoughts?
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