With American Kickboxing Academy’s Cain Velasquez recapturing the UFC heavyweight title from Junior dos Santos at UFC 155 on Saturday, it seems possible that his teammate, Daniel Cormier, will drop down to 205 pounds.
According to UFC president Dana White, that’s not necessarily a bad thing, as a change in weight classes could grant “DC” the next title shot against UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
White said as much at the UFC 155 post-fight presser (via MMA Junkie):
“[Cormier] is going to bring a lot of excitement to the heavyweight or light heavyweight division,” White said following Saturday night’s UFC 155 event in Las Vegas. “And he could be next in line to fight (Jon) Jones.”
Cormier, the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Winner, fights the final Strikeforce event on Jan. 12 against journeyman Dion Staring.
The former Olympic-level wrestler is a perfect 10-0 as a professional mixed martial artist and boasts victories over the likes of Jeff Monson, Antonio Silva and Josh Barnett.
Although he wrestled at 211 pounds for many years, Cormier suffered kidney failure during the 2008 Olympics and has opted not to cut anymore weight since then.
White also indicated that he is not going to tell Cormier or Velasquez which weight class they should be competing in anytime soon.
“I have so much respect for both of those guys,” White said. “They can go wherever they want. If they want to fight each other at heavy, I’m cool with that. If [Cormier] wants to go to 205, I’m cool with that. Either way.”
Even with a victory over Staring and the decision to cut weight, Cormier would have a long wait before he gets a light heavyweight title fight.
Jones will have his hands full with Chael Sonnen as they coach opposite one another on this season of “The Ultimate Fighter” before they square off in a title fight this April.
Is now the perfect time for Cormier to drop down to light heavyweight, or is he best suited to keep using the speed and technique advantage he has at heavyweight?
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com