Jon Jones is certainly a confident champion.
With just days remaining until his title defense at UFC 165 against Alexander Gustafsson, Jones is prepared and ready to win the fight without much worry about the issues that his opponent presents him.
Appearing on the Jim Rome Show on Wednesday, when asked what problems Gustafsson presents to him in the fight, his response was “really nothing.” Jones believes his training was on point and the execution will be flawless.
So that turns the conversation to a different talking point—if it’s already a foregone conclusion that he beats Gustafsson, who’s next?
Well, Jones is looking at a couple of possibilities, but the most likely scenario is the showdown against current top-rated contender, Glover Teixeira. The Brazilian fighter on a long winning streak most recently dispatched of Ryan Bader by knockout at UFC Fight Night 28 to earn the spot as next in line to compete for the title.
If the Teixeira fight doesn’t happen, Jones is even open to some superfight possibilities.
“I’m predicting either Glover Teixeira or some interesting superfights for the fans,” Jones answered when asked what comes next.
Another name that was brought up to the UFC’s reigning light heavyweight champion was former Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix winner Daniel Cormier, who is currently jetting a path down to 205 pounds. He still has to get past Roy Nelson at UFC 166 in October, but following that fight, Cormier is planning on making the move down in weight.
While there have been discussions about Cormier potentially receiving a title shot on Day 1 in the division, Jones was quick to put the breaks on that idea. He doesn’t seem to care for Cormier very much and has no desire to give him a title shot at any time, much less at the exact moment he moves to light heavyweight.
“As far as Daniel Cormier, he definitely won’t be getting a title fight,” Jones said. “I don’t think I would accept a fight against him. He’s a guy I don’t respect at all, and I would definitely make sure he loses the weight, makes 205 and earns himself a title shot.”
Jones and Cormier have been verbally sparring back and forth for the better part of the last year. Cormier has since dedicated himself to moving down to light heavyweight with the mission to dethrone Jones from atop his mountain of success.
It doesn’t sound as if Jones is buying it, however, and he doesn’t plan on giving Cormier anything—he’s going to have to earn it.
“At the end of the day, the guy’s just a hater,” Jones said. “I really have done nothing wrong to the guy to have an issue with him, and every time I turn around he’s figuring out a way to have my name in his mouth.
“I just don’t respect the guy at all. I think the ultimate way to defeat him is to make him lose all that weight, which is tough work, make him earn a title fight, which is tough work and then at the end of the day walk away with nothing.”
Jones has made similar statements before regarding the campaign of Chael Sonnen to get a crack at the title, but he yielded to popular opinion and, of course, the wishes of the UFC once the fight was put together.
It’s likely he would do the same if the UFC asked him to face Cormier, but the line in the sand has been drawn, and this rivalry is only getting started.
Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report
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