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UFC on FX 7: All Eyes on Michael Bisping

Michael Bisping is one fight away from getting everything he wants, and the the only obstacle standing between the former TUF winner and a long-awaited shot at middleweight king Anderson Silva is Vitor Belfort.The two men will mix it up this Saturday n…

The two men will mix it up this Saturday night at UFC on FX 7 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. While Bisping‘s momentum is on the rise, getting past “The Phenom” has proven to be a difficult task. But should “The Count” make good on his promise to break the MMA legend down, the next title opportunity will be his for the taking.

Success this weekend in Brazil will be the culmination of a long journey for the 33-year-old Brit. Since winning Season 3 of The Ultimate Fighter, Bisping has stepped into the Octagon on 16 occasions, with all but four of those outings resulting in victories. A quick look at the losses on his resume show those setbacks have come against some of the best in the sport (Rashad Evans, Chael Sonnen, Wanderlei Silva, and Dan Henderson), with only the bout against “Hendo” at UFC 100 being a clear-cut defeat.

Over this time, MMA fans have developed a love/hate relationship with the brash Englishman. Outside of fellow TUF alums Josh Koscheck and Rashad Evans, there is no other fighter more widely booed than Bisping, but it is a role he’s embraced wholeheartedly.

He doesn’t care if fans don’t like him. He doesn’t care if some show up hoping he’ll lose. All he cares about is putting everything he has into the fight, and all criticisms aside, it is difficult to find a mixed martial artist more passionate about what he does than Bisping.

In a sport where fighters are cautious about what they say to the media, the middleweight contender is a breath of fresh air. There is never any hesitation for him to say what is on his mind, and he unloads those thoughts in rapid-fire fashion. His opinions have a certain level of conviction that are free of schtick, and in the current trend of trash talking to build up pre-fight hype, there is no denying that Bisping, in fact, “gets it.”

Strong performances inside the cage and the drive to push his profile higher in the public realm have brought Bisping one fight away from a title shot. Again, defeating Belfort will be no easy task, but with the tools Bisping brings to the table, there are several stylistic advantages that play out strongly in his favor.

Defeating the Lion in the Lion’s Den

Over a 17-year career, Belfort has proven his abilities when it comes to handling business inside the cage. It has also become evident that the 35-year-old is front heavy where the action is concerned. Working behind an aggressive attack, Belfort historically wastes little time looking to put his power on the opposition.

Of his 21 victories, 15 have come inside the opening frame, and while being a “fast starter” is a strength in the fight game, not being able to sustain that explosion (borrowed from Benson Henderson) has proven to be costly for the Brazilian.

Bisping‘s approach inside the Octagon is the exact opposite. From bell to bell, he pours out a high-output striking attack with a focus of breaking the opposition down over the course of the fight. His kickboxing background provides him the luxury of the right amount of space, and solid hand speed and footwork allow him to close distance quickly when he so chooses.

In the fight with Belfort, both will be important. If Bisping can avoid the former light heavyweight champion’s power throughout the opening minutes, the damage will begin to add up. His ability to push the pace has the potential to pay dividends as the fight carries into later rounds.

If Bisping can exhaust Belfort‘s gas tank, the fight could shift to be a one-sided affair in the later rounds. It is in those cases where Bisping excels. In past fights, when the opposition has begun to fade, Bisping turns up the intensity and closes out the action in impressive fashion.

A Date with the Spider

Few divisions have undergone the type of makeover the UFC’s 185-pound weight class has experienced. Two years ago, many believed Silva had defeated all potential contenders and cleaned out the division. While that may have been the case back then, the current picture is just starting to heat up.

There is a solid collection of talent coming over from Strikeforce, and with contender Chris Weidman set to return later this year, the timing is right for Bisping to get the title shot. Now the only thing left to do is earn it. In order to do so, he’ll have to defeat a legend in front of a passionate crowd filled with fight-frenzied Brazilians.

It’s a fitting stage for Bisping to prove he deserves a title shot. Now we wait to see if he can capitalize on the opportunity.

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Meet Me by the Bike Rack: An Old School Throwdown MMA Fans Can’t Miss

There is something about a fight that appeals to our primal senses. By saying this, I’m not talking about the often touted “big fight” feel where there is something special in the air and all that jazz, but rather, the type of fight where you know two men who don’t particularly care for one another are going to finally cross paths, where they are going to solve their differences in a flurry of punches and kicks.

It may seem like a stripped-down approach, but championship belts and accolades aside, finding out who is the superior fighter is what mixed martial arts is all about.

Working in the sport for the past several years, I have witnessed plenty of matchups that have played crucial roles in the bigger picture of all things MMA. That being said, few things get me more excited on fight night than knowing I’m going to see an old-school scrap take place.

There is something ineffable about it. My colleague and Bleacher Report lead writer Jeremy Botter likes to say these fights “tickle his violence bone.” Thank you for the phrase Mr. Botter—I couldn’t agree more.

This, of course, isn’t taking anything away from the technical aspects of the battle. When two talented combatants settle into the ruckus, their skill sets are their most important assets. But when you look farther into the heart of the fight and know two men are going to come forward with everything they have, what is there not to get excited about?

When you sprinkle a good old-fashioned grudge on top of an already combustible combination, then you have a fight that simply can’t be missed. Fortunately for UFC fans, over the next few months, there are going to be a handful of these tilts, starting next weekend in Chicago at UFC on Fox 6.

Cowboy vs. Showtime

In the world of MMA media, there is perhaps no greater advocate for the 155-pound fighter than yours truly. All truths be told, I’m a geek about it. It is my solemn belief that this weight class is not only the deepest and most competitive in the sport, but also the most exciting.

In the UFC alone, the Top 10 is a shark tank, filled with fighters who can end an opponent’s night in brutal fashion but also have the gas to do 25 minutes’ worth of battle if the situation requires. I’m a lightweight fanatic through and through, and the upcoming throwdown between Donald Cerrone and Anthony Pettis has been on my radar for quite some time.

As two of the top 155-pound fighters in the now-defunct WEC (Never Forget), it is strange their paths never crossed in the little blue cage. Nevertheless, the merger with the UFC went down, both proved their mettle inside the Octagon and now their scheduled dance is more high-profile than ever. While the winner could potentially earn a shot at the lightweight crown, neither fighter seems all too concerned with that at the moment.

The fighters know that there is a dust-up on the horizon, and no one is making the trip to Chicago to lose.

Of the two, Cerrone has certainly been the busier fighter since transitioning over from the WEC. “Cowboy” fought five times in 2011 alone and has found victory in six out of seven bouts under the UFC banner. The 29-year old, Albuquerque-based fighter is a walking embodiment of the “anytime, anywhere” mentality,and he’s proven as much by taking multiple fights on short notice.

When Cerrone’s name is on a card, you know you are going to see action.

The Jackson’s MMA-trained fighter pushes forward at all costs, working behind technical striking, where he possesses power in both his hands and feet. While his stand-up may be Cerrone’s strong suit, slick submission skills and continued improvement in his wrestling make him a threat wherever the fight takes place. To put it simply: Cerrone isn’t in the cage to mess around, and he’s looking to finish his opponent in any fashion that presents itself.

The path to this fight has been long and winding for Pettis and, ultimately, frustrating as well.

The former WEC champion entered the UFC looking for an immediate title shot, but the congestion caused by the Edgar-versus-Maynard situation lead “Showtime” to take a different route. The 25-year-old faced Clay Guida in his Octagon debut and was handed his first loss in nearly two years.

Pettis bounced back strong with wins over Jeremy Stephens and Joe Lauzon, but a rash of injuries sidelined him for the remainder of 2012. The Milwaukee native is looking to make a huge statement and a case for title contention in 2013.

That quest begins against Cerrone in Chicago.

The Duke Roufus-trained fighter possesses a versatile skill set and is undoubtedly one of the most promising young fighters in the sport. Perhaps Pettis’s biggest asset is his unpredictability. The surging talent has shown the ability to deliver video game-inspired attacks whenever he sees fit, and not knowing if you are going to catch a kick in the mouth coming off a capoeira back spin or fence jump is enough to keep the opposition guessing.

It is in those moments of hesitation where Pettis shines, and he’s proven his ability to capitalize when he goes on the offensive. When you add in strong ground skills, it is easy to see why there is so much buzz surrounding him.

Of course, all these things are nice to say, but no one knows what is going to happen when the cage door closes. Plenty of times before, I have seen a matchup that looks dynamite on paper (Guillard vs. Stephens) turn out to be a wash inside the cage. Nevertheless, Cerrone vs. Pettis appears poised to be the fight we are all expecting it to be.

Earlier this week, Cerrone echoed that feeling, describing the bout as “power vs. flash” on the UFC on Fox 6 media call before adding a few choice words just to throw a little more gas on the pre-fight fire.

Next weekend at the United Center in Chicago, Cerrone and Pettis are going to step in the cage and go at it.

The winner could very well be the next in line for a shot at the UFC lightweight title.

But before those things can materialize, there are going to be leather, shins, knees and elbows flying. After all the talk about Pettis ducking Cerrone for years, now comes the time to show and prove.

There is going to be a fight, ladies and gentleman. What more could you ask for?

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Andrew Craig Looking to Make a Statement Against Markes in Brazil

Taking a fight in hostile territory has proven to shake even the most experienced fighters, but it is becoming routine for Andrew Craig. The middleweight upstart made his UFC debut defeating Australian Kyle Noke in front of the TUF alum’s countrymen, a…

The bout will be the biggest of his young career. While facing the Nova Uniao-trained grappler presents an interesting challenge, fighting in front of a passionate Brazilian crowd will only serve to up the intensity of the moment. That being said, victory is the only thing that matters to Craig, and he intends to get the job done by any means necessary.

“Winning is what matters,” Craig told Bleacher Report. “I don’t care what it looks like. It can be a clean win, slow win, fast or ugly; winning is what matters the most. I don’t care. I’m just out there to win fights. I know it’s going to be a little wild going down there, but it doesn’t change anything. He’s still just a man and all we are doing is fighting in a cage.

“I think this fight is like a lot of other matchups I’ve had, but Markes is just a little bit better in all areas. I’ve fought against big, strong grapplers in the past, the only difference is this guy is a little bit bigger and a little bit stronger of a grappler. But I’m confident going into this fight. I’ve been training with Tim Kennedy since October, helping him get ready for his fight, and there aren’t many guys in the 185-pound division as good as he is. I’m feeling confident man. I don’t think this guy is going to bring much to the table I’m not used to.”

Success on the regional MMA scene in Texas earned the 26-year-old the opportunity to fight inside the Octagon, and he’s made the most of every step. Following his victory over Noke, Craig squared off with Rafael Natal at UFC on Fuel TV 4. Despite a rough start where Craig found himself on the business end of exchanges with Natal, he landed a stunning head-kick knockout to claim the come-from-behind victory in the second frame.

While back-to-back wins and an unblemished record have the Texan continuing to build momentum in the UFC ranks, Craig acknowledges there is still much work to be done. Fighting on the sport’s biggest stage can be an overwhelming experience, but Craig is starting to settle in and is looking to put himself on the divisional map by getting the win this weekend in Brazil.

“I absolutely believe I can make a statement with a victory over Markes,” Craig said. “I think my two wins in the UFC have kind of gone under the radar. My first was against Kyle Noke, an Australian in Australia. It was on a Fuel undercard and the one against Natal was on Facebook. There are a lot of people who aren’t familiar with me and my fighting style. I think beating a guy like Ronny will make a big statement for me.

“I’m coming off a win but I still got my ass beat during the fight. Even though I won, I was still a little down about my performance. It’s obviously a little bit louder in the Octagon and there is more pressure, but I’m learning to take those things in stride. This next fight should be the biggest one yet. It will be against a Brazilian in Brazil, but I’m feeling more and more comfortable in there. I’m getting to the point where I’m more excited than I am nervous. I’m getting there man.”

A victory over Markes this weekend, will put Craig among the next wave of fighters looking to make an impact in the middleweight division. While the weight class is ruled by the most dominant champion in UFC history in Anderson Silva, the climb to the top of the 185-pound weight class has proven to be a slippery slope.

Potential contenders continue to rise and fall in high frequency, and with the Strikeforce middleweights set to enter the picture, Craig believes the weight class is about to heat up.

“I think this division is wide open,” Craig said. “There are so many tough guys in this division and guys like Tim Kennedy, Jacare and Rockhold coming in from Strikeforce are only going to make it that much more competitive. A lot of people used to scoff at the 185-pound division, but now I think it is the best it has ever been.”

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Jose Aldo: ‘This Fight Is a Chance to Prove What I Can Do’

The term “superfight” has been thrown around the MMA scene a lot over the past several months.Potential bouts between the sport’s pound-for-pound best have certainly created a buzz, but with the majority of the matchups never material…

The term “superfight” has been thrown around the MMA scene a lot over the past several months.

Potential bouts between the sport’s pound-for-pound best have certainly created a buzz, but with the majority of the matchups never materializing past the rumor stage, it appears fans will have to put those hopes on hold.

While the collection of Anderson Silva, Jon Jones and Georges St-Pierre have yet to work out a timeline for their eventual showdowns, two UFC champions, one current/one former, are set to handle business in a matter of weeks when featherweight title holder Jose Aldo squares off with Frankie Edgar at UFC 156 on Feb. 2 in Las Vegas.

During his title reign in the lightweight division, the Toms River, N.J., native showed an unbreakable resolve as he collected victories over two of the sport’s best 155-pound fighters in BJ Penn and Gray Maynard.

But after his win over “The Bully” at UFC 136, Edgar dropped back-to-back close decision losses to Benson Henderson. The final setback came at UFC 150 in Denver, and shortly after, “The Answer” decided to test the waters in the featherweight division.

Edgar was rumored to make his 145-pound debut against Ricardo Lamas, but after No. 1 contender Erik Koch dropped out of his bout with Aldo at UFC 153, the UFC tapped the former lightweight champion to step in against the Brazilian phenom.

Unfortunately, the fight would ultimately be scrapped due to Aldo suffering a foot injury. But with the buzz over the long-awaited superfight between Aldo and Edgar still high, the UFC decided to reschedule the bout for UFC 156 on Super Bowl weekend.

“Frankie Edgar is a great athlete,” Aldo told Bleacher Report through a translator. “It will be an honor to have the chance to fight against him. He is a great fighter, and if the victory comes, it will be a big achievement. As always, I’m going to keep the fight moving and trying to do my best. This fight is a chance to prove what I can do.”

In past matchups, Edgar had a definitive speed advantage. The 31-year-old has made a career out of using elusive footwork to set up both his striking and wrestling attacks.

Facing Aldo will present a unique set of challenges. The Nova Uniao product is undoubtedly one of the sport’s quickest fighters, and his diverse striking game is as dangerous as they come.

Aldo has worked to prepare for every threat Edgar brings to the table, including having friend and Edgar rival Maynard come to Brazil to train with his team at Nova Uniao on multiple occasions. While “Junior” isn’t overlooking the skills his opponent possesses, he is hoping to showcase a few new tools in this fight.

“Maynard is a great guy,” Aldo said. “It was an honor to train by his side. I also train with the Brazilian wrestling team doing a specific job for a long time. I will do my best to surprise everybody. I am training very hard. Anything can happen in a fight, and I can’t underestimate my opponent.”

Aldo is commonly referred to as one of the sport’s pound-for-pound best, and it is a status that comes with merit. The 26-year-old is in the midst of a 14-fight win streak which includes victories over top competition such as Urijah Faber, Kenny Florian, Cub Swanson and Chad Mendes.

During his title reign, the division has started to take shape. With former lightweight champions and contenders like Edgar and Clay Guida dropping down to 145 pounds, the weight class is only going to become more competitive.

It is a challenge Aldo is looking forward to, and he welcomes the lightweight fighter coming down to the featherweight division.

“Yes, for sure,” Aldo replied when asked if he was excited to see big names come down to featherweight. “I love fighting, and with the division growing, more challenges are going to appear.”

Duane Finley is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

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Michael Chandler Ready for Hawn, Excited for Next Chapter on Spike TV

The wait is almost over for Michael Chandler.After blitzing his way through the Bellator lightweight tournament and toppling one of the world’s best at 155 pounds in 2011, the following year was at the opposite end of the spectrum. The former Missouri …

The wait is almost over for Michael Chandler.

After blitzing his way through the Bellator lightweight tournament and toppling one of the world’s best at 155 pounds in 2011, the following year was at the opposite end of the spectrum. The former Missouri wrestling standout had only one showing in 2012, a non-title bout against Akihiro Gono, where it only took Chandler 54 seconds of work to get the job done.

It was no doubt an impressive performance against a seasoned veteran, but Chandler was eager to keep his progress rolling. When Olympic judoka Rick Hawn emerged as the winner of Bellator’s sixth lightweight tournament, the 26-year-old champion finally had his next assignment. But with the promotion’s preparing to roll out a new format with Spike TV in 2013, the organization’s two top lightweights were put on the shelf until the new year.

The young champion will finally get the opportunity to defend his title when he mixes it up with Hawn this Thursday night at Bellator 85.

“I had a great camp and I’ve made a lot of improvements,” Chandler told Bleacher Report. “I haven’t really taken any time off since my last fight and I’ve spent a lot of time in the gym. I’m still healthy, happy, and young. I’m feeling better than ever and believe I’m going to be the best fighter I’ve ever been.”

While both men have progressed to become well-rounded mixed martial artists, the matchup will potentially boil down to their respective pedigrees. Chandler is a former All-American wrestler who has transitioned his mat skills to become an aggressive takedown artist inside the cage. When you add in his continued progression in the striking and submission aspects of the game, it is easy to see why there is so much buzz surrounding the Missouri-native.

The same can be said for Hawn. The 36-year-old has added a powerful striking game to his world-class judo skills, and has proven to be dangerous wherever the fight takes place. That being said, Chandler believes his overall skill set will be too much for the Oregon-native to handle, and is looking forward to locking up with the Team Tri-Star fighter.

“Not to discredit Rick, but I feel like I’m more talented in every aspect of fighting,” Chandler said. “He’s a great competitor, and a tough guy, but I feel like I’ve progressed and my stand up and wrestling skills are just a little bit better. I’m in great shape and prepared to push the pace for 25 minutes if I have to. I’ll be looking for the finish and I don’t see why I won’t be able to beat him up pretty bad, wear him down, and hopefully get the finish later on in the fight. That is kind of the plan. Again, not to discredit him at all. He does have Olympic level judo, but that is something I believe my wrestling is going to be able to counteract very well. Obviously he has a good right hand he’s been able to knock a couple of guys out with. I need to stay away from that, stick and move, get in and out, and win the fight.

“I was never an upper body wrestler. I am a shooter. I get in on your legs and take you down. I think overall body awareness and knowing exactly where I need to be makes a big difference. Knowing how much weight to put on each foot or where I need to put my hands are things I’m very good at. Obviously with the wrestling background those are things that come naturally.

“His judo is great but I don’t see him using it a ton against me,” Chandler added. “It’s not like he’s throwing everybody on their heads. Granted it happens, but he isn’t out there dumping people on their heads every single fight. He does get some good take downs with trips, but I just don’t see those things happening to me with the amount of wrestling I’ve had. I’m excited to see. I could talk to you in two weeks and say, ‘how bout that time he threw me on my head.’ Who knows what is going to happen?”

Since winning the Bellator lightweight title, Chandler has made the transition of switching his training from Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas to Alliance MMA in San Diego. In a sport of constant evolution like mixed martial arts, it is crucial for a fighter to continue to progress his talents. Often times, that requires getting new looks and insights and Chandler felt the move was necessary to keep his growth as a fighter rolling in the right direction.

“It’s been a great experience,” Chandler said. “Training in Las Vegas at Xtreme Couture was awesome and I was there for almost two years. But now I’m training at Alliance and there are new coaches and training partners I have to work with. There are always a ton of different people to learn from and people that are pushing me to get better. No one takes it easy on me at all. It’s been a great fit for me and I feel like it was a great decision to come down here. I haven’t looked back since and I definitely feel like it was the right decision. I’ve gotten a ton better and I can’t complain one bit.”

When Chandler and Hawn step into the cage this Thursday night in California, it will be the premier showcase of Bellator’s debut on Spike TV. Both the promotion and the network have big plans for the coming year, and are looking to make a major impact on the MMA landscape in 2013. For a surging fighter like Chandler, the partnership presents many interesting opportunities and he’s excited to reach a the new audience Spike TV presents.

“It is a great opportunity to fight on a big stage,” Chandler said. “It’s the biggest stage I’ve ever been on and it’s exciting. I’m ready to go out there and perform. It’s exciting to go out there and fight for the fans who have been with me since the start, the fans I’ve picked up along the way, and the new ones who haven’t really watched a ton of Bellator because it has been on ESPN Deportes, Fox Sports, and MTV2. Now it is on Spike. When you talk about being able to reach a ton of people, Spike TV makes that possible. I’m pretty excited about the situation.”

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How Does Daniel Cormier Stack Up Against Frank Mir and Jon Jones?

There was a lot of pressure on Daniel Cormier’s shoulders going into Saturday night.The buzz regarding his eventual UFC debut was building solid momentum, but in the pre-fight lead-up to his bout with Dion Staring, the former Olympic wrestler remained …

There was a lot of pressure on Daniel Cormier‘s shoulders going into Saturday night.

The buzz regarding his eventual UFC debut was building solid momentum, but in the pre-fight lead-up to his bout with Dion Staring, the former Olympic wrestler remained tight lipped about his intentions for the next chapter. Rather than talk about what “could happen,” Cormier was focused on talking care of what had to happen, and that was handling business with Staring in impressive fashion.

Despite being heavily outmatched in the fight, the Dutch special forces fighter came into the Strikeforce cage looking to give his all, but in the end that effort wasn’t anywhere near enough as Cormier pounded out the second round-stoppage victory.

For all the high-drama moments the actual fight lacked, Cormier made up for it tenfold in his post-fight speech. He put an end to the speculation about his UFC path and told Pat Miletich exactly what he intends to do.

“I signed my UFC contract,” Cormier said. “April 20, on Fox, Frank Mir let’s do it. It was supposed to happen, and we were supposed to fight in Oklahoma, so he owes it to me.”

The statement got a rise out of the Oklahoma crowd and sent the media cracking away on their keyboards, but the 33-year-old wasn’t quite finished. He made one more declaration before exiting the cage by calling out one of the most dominant champions in the sport, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.

“I’m going to let Jon defend his belt in April, and then I’m going to kick his ass in the fall.”

Both were bold statements from Cormier, who over the past two years has been on a surge that has carried him from prospect to one of the world’s best heavyweights. Now with his time in Strikeforce behind him, the former Oklahoma State wrestling standout is set to face the biggest challenges of his career.

Unfinished Business

The matchup between Cormier and Mir was originally slated to take place back in November, but the former two-time UFC champion was forced to withdraw due to injury.

Eventually the entire card was scrapped, and Cormier was forced to face an unknown in his final Strikeforce appearance. While the bout between Cormier and Mir has not yet been officially confirmed, all signs are pointing to an eventual showdown in San Jose.

On paper, the bout carries all types of intrigue.

Mir has defeated some of the best heavyweights in the history of the sport, and his submission skills are legendary. When the action hits the canvas, the Las Vegas native isn’t the merciful kind. For proof of this, ask former champions Tim Sylvia and Antonio Nogueira how it feels once Mir locks in a hold.

Mir’s style is interesting because the ground is exactly where Cormier is going to take the fight. While his striking is coming along with solid progression, wrestling will always be D.C.’s bread and butter. There is no doubt he is going to attempt to dump Mir on his back and look to grab victory where his opponent is the most dangerous.

The key to victory on Cormier‘s side is not giving up position while he looks to impose his will in the ground-and-pound.

In his fights with Josh Barnett and Staring, Cormier showed a disciplined approach as he set about his game plan. He had plenty of opportunities to go for a submission against Staring, but with that portion of Cormier‘s game still developing, he chose to keep position the No. 1 priority and continued to score with ground strikes.

Of course, those things won’t come easily against a savvy veteran like Mir. The two-time “Submission of the Year” winner has made a career of turning the tables on his opponents when things appeared to be going heavily in their favor.

In bouts against Brock Lesnar and Nogueira, Mir was under fire after being rocked only to latch onto a limb. Once he grabs a tight grip on whatever limb is presented to him, Frank Mir sets about doing what Frank Mir does, and the results often make for gruesome, highlight-reel material.

Should Cormier come in and rag doll Mir the way he did Barnett in the finals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, the next step of his plan should be delivered on a silver platter.

A Grudge Match With Substance

Cormier may have called out Jones Saturday night in Oklahoma, but the two have been trading barbs for some time. With the talk of Cormier possibly dropping to light heavyweight, the UFC champion has been asked about the potential matchup and has dismissed Cormier as a serious opponent.

With Strikeforce’s doors officially closed and Cormier‘s Octagon debut a reality, the Team Thirsty member is directly on Jones’ radar. A scheduled bout against Chael Sonnen will no doubt be the priority for Jones, but you have to think Cormier has at least made it onto the young champion’s agenda.

The matchup between Cormier and Jones presents a lot of interesting angles.

Jones uses his range and reach to batter his foe before finally putting him on the mat, but in a bout with a compact fighter like Cormier, Jones’ length will be an even bigger advantage. The biggest fear when facing Jones is that he is eventually going to get a hold of you and put you on your back. Once that happens, it is only a matter of time before elbows rain down and end your evening in brutal fashion.

In his professional mixed martial arts career, Cormier has never given up a takedown. Jones may have a solid wrestling pedigree, but he is nowhere near Cormier‘s level.

Cormier has shown the ability to take the fight to the floor at will. It would be interesting to see how Jones would react to the smothering top game that Cormier brings to the table.

Another angle to pay attention to in this possible throwdown is the weight class. In interviews over the past two years, Jones has stated his intention to move up into the heavyweight division after he is done handling business in his weight class.

That being said, Cormier is issuing a challenge to Jones, and the MMA fighter is going to want the fight on his terms. That means Cormier is going to have to cut the weight and come down into Jones’ world.

From everything Cormier has shown in his 11 professional fights, there is no reason to doubt his determination about dropping down to 205 pounds. While a heavyweight tilt against a veteran as dangerous as Mir is exciting, a potential scrap with Jones could be one of the year’s best.

Whether or not Cormier presents the biggest threat to the dominant champion’s reign remains to seen, but the buzz to make the fight happen will only grow from here.

In the week leading up to his final fight in Strikeforce, Cormier had to keep everything under wraps, but now that he is officially a UFC fighter, he’s coming out of the gates with guns blazing.

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