Phil Davis, “Mr. Wonderful,” is ready and willing to step in and fight Glover Teixeira at UFC 172 because he doesn’t think Jon Jones will make the fight.
In an interview with MMAJunkie Radio (h/t Steven Marrocco), Davis said he had a “sneaky suspicion” that Jones will not make it to his next title fight. Davis went on to explain why he must be ready to face Teixeira in Jones’ stead.
“I’m just going to tell you the short version,” Davis said. “Alexander Gustafsson put tips all over that boy. [Jones] doesn’t know up from down, left from right. So I really don’t see him wanting to get back in there with anybody—definitely not Alexander. I don’t even think he wants to get back in there with Glover Teixeira—bless his little heart.”
Thus, the “sneaky suspicion” blooms into a prediction of flight rather than fight for the UFC light heavyweight champion due to his Fight of the Year effort against Gustafsson at UFC 165. Jones retained his title in the bout but suffered the first takedowns of his career while getting battered and bloodied.
Against Teixeira, Jones will enjoy a staggering eight-and-a-half-inch reach advantage and a two-inch height advantage—two things he did not have against Gustafsson. In the past, when Jones had such advantages, he made his fights look easy.
As for Davis, he is in good health, has a clear schedule and is just waiting for a fight offer to come his way. His last bout was a controversial decision victory over Lyoto Machida at UFC 163 in August of last year.
Whether or not his prediction of Jones falling out of his fight with Teixeira at UFC 172—scheduled for April 26—comes true remains to be seen.
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