Tag: daniel cormier

Daniel Cormier Willing to Delay Surgery for UFC Title Shot Against Jon Jones

The drama surrounding Jon Jones’ next title defense adds a new wrinkle seemingly every day. This time it’s Daniel Cormier doing his part to oblige Jones’ request for a showdown in the Octagon.
Speaking on UFC Tonight, Cormier said he’d be willing to de…

The drama surrounding Jon Jones‘ next title defense adds a new wrinkle seemingly every day. This time it’s Daniel Cormier doing his part to oblige Jones’ request for a showdown in the Octagon.

Speaking on UFC Tonight, Cormier said he’d be willing to delay surgery on his injured knee if it meant getting a UFC title shot.

This comes on the heels of UFC president Dana White saying that Jones had yet to agree to a rematch with Alexander Gustafsson because the champ wants to fight Cormier. The former Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix winner believes Jones wants to face him because he wants nothing to do with Gustafsson.

“He had to reach so deep into his soul to win that last fight, I truly believe he doesn’t want to fight Alex again,” Cormier told Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports. “Alex took him somewhere he’d never been before and he doesn’t want to go there ever again.”

The talk among many MMA fans is that Jones is trying to duck Gustafsson, something the champ emphatically denied.

White has attempted to put Jones in check, claiming Gustafsson is the No. 1 contender. Obviously the champ doesn’t see it that way, as Jones is rolling with the “I already beat him” defense.

That’s despite their UFC 165 clash being one of the closest fights in UFC history. Many fans had Gustafsson winning, and Jones looked like anything but a winner of a fight.

Instead of getting an immediate rematch, as is the custom with so many close title fights these days, Gustafsson had to settle for Jimi Manuwa at UFC Fight Night 37. Jones, meanwhile, successfully defended his UFC light heavyweight title against Glover Teixeira at UFC 172 in dominant fashion.

Cormier‘s response gives Jones more leverage in his negotiations with the UFC, as if he needed more. Jones wants to fight Cormier, and Cormier wants to fight Jones. The only problem is that the UFC fans, the people who pay to watch Jones fight, want to see him rematch with Gustafsson.

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Jon Jones’s Latest Video Greeting to His Haters: ‘It’s My Career, Not Yours’

(I like his little laugh at the end. Solid heel-move.)

Just as we friggin’ predicted, UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones shot a quick Instagram video responding to all the jackass fans who have accused him of “ducking” Alexander Gustafsson, simply because he’d rather fight Daniel Cormier in his next belt defense. And then, just like last time, he quickly took the video down. (Luckily, BleacherReport spotted this existing copy on YouTube.)

Basically, Jones feels that his request to fight an undefeated former Olympic wrestler and Strikeforce champion doesn’t exactly make him a coward, and hey, it’s his career anyway so STFU. All good points. And honestly, going after the fans is a pretty good idea as well if Bones is really trying to build himself up as a villain figure. As our own Matt Saccaro put it, “Jon Jones should be posting dozens more hate videos directed at fans, not deleting them.”

Your thoughts? Any idea why Jon looks so squinty?


(I like his little laugh at the end. Solid heel-move.)

Just as we friggin’ predicted, UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones shot a quick Instagram video responding to all the jackass fans who have accused him of “ducking” Alexander Gustafsson, simply because he’d rather fight Daniel Cormier in his next belt defense. And then, just like last time, he quickly took the video down. (Luckily, BleacherReport spotted this existing copy on YouTube.)

Basically, Jones feels that his request to fight an undefeated former Olympic wrestler and Strikeforce champion doesn’t exactly make him a coward, and hey, it’s his career anyway so STFU. All good points. And honestly, going after the fans is a pretty good idea as well if Bones is really trying to build himself up as a villain figure. As our own Matt Saccaro put it, “Jon Jones should be posting dozens more hate videos directed at fans, not deleting them.”

Your thoughts? Any idea why Jon looks so squinty?

Fans Deserve to See Jon Jones Fight Alexander Gustafsson, Daniel Cormier

At just 26 years old, Jon Jones is the greatest fighter on the planet.
Some, including this author, might say that the reigning light heavyweight champion has placed Anderson Silva and Fedor Emelianenko in his rear-view mirror, effectively becoming the…

At just 26 years old, Jon Jones is the greatest fighter on the planet.

Some, including this author, might say that the reigning light heavyweight champion has placed Anderson Silva and Fedor Emelianenko in his rear-view mirror, effectively becoming the greatest fighter the world has ever seen.

Being the pound-for-pound best doesn’t come without widespread, sometimes well-deserved criticism, though.

Whether it’s refusing to fight Chael Sonnen on short notice, being arrested for DWI or declining to sign a fight contract that would ensure a sequel to one of the greatest fights in the history of the light heavyweight championship, he’s long been a target of fans’ ire.

The first was questionable. The second was inexcusable. The third is unacceptable. 

Fans of Jon Jones deserve more.

Spin it however you’d like, but there’s reason for boxing diehards to disregard Floyd Mayweather Jr. as the greatest fighter to ever live. A perfect record and impenetrable defense is great and all, but many will ceaselessly question why a bout between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao never came to fruition. 

Color it a dispute over revenue. Call it a clash over performance-enhancing drugs. Know it as a shame—MMA fans cannot let Jones make the same career-defining mistake.

Without a genuine statement from Jones, there’s no real way of understanding what’s preventing him from signing on for the rematch with Alexander Gustafsson. Some have speculated that he wants more money. Dana White has stated that Jones would rather fight Daniel Cormier instead. On his Facebook account, Gustafsson has gone as far as to claim Jones was “running” from him.

Jon ‘Bones’ Jones, be a man, be a champ and sign that bout agreement and stop running. Keep in mind that after I beat you and become the champ I might be doing the same for you when you chase me for a rematch, as a revenge for not accepting my challenge. Sooner or later you will have to face me, just make it sooner! The fans want this fight, UFC wants this fight and I want this fight, and I damn deserve it.

Impatient with the champ’s reluctance to defend his strap, Cormier, the UFC’s No. 2-ranked light heavyweight, has opened himself up to a fight with Gustafsson—a fight that would determine the UFC interim light heavyweight champion. 

Cormier could lose his perfect record, and Gustafsson could lose that near-invincible aura he developed since going on a tear back in 2010—this fight wouldn’t be a good idea.

Jones should fight both because he’s the best to ever be, and some still don’t believe it.

Decisive victories against Gustafsson, the only man who fought him five rounds en route to a questionable decision, and Cormier, another man who many consider to be the only one who could consistently put Jones on his back, would cement his legacy and silence all the naysayers. 

So, please, Jon, sign the contract and continue on your ascendance to unforeseen heights—your fans deserve it.

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Daniel Cormier: Gustafsson Took Jones Somewhere He Never Wants to Go Again

Jon Jones had to reach deep within his soul to defeat Alexander Gustafsson the first time. It was an unexpected nightmare that Daniel Cormier truly believes the UFC light heavyweight champ never wants to experience again.
On September 21, 2013, Air Can…

Jon Jones had to reach deep within his soul to defeat Alexander Gustafsson the first time. It was an unexpected nightmare that Daniel Cormier truly believes the UFC light heavyweight champ never wants to experience again.

On September 21, 2013, Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada, played home to arguably the greatest championship fight in UFC history. Jones had effortlessly breezed through every legendary contender attempting to halt his light heavyweight title reign.

Initially, Gustafsson was looked at as little more than a pawn aimed at proving Jones’ success wasn’t completely based on holding significant physical advantages over opponents. For the first time in his career, Jones was tasked with defeating a contender who closely matched him in both height and reach.

Gustafsson snubbed any notion of being a pawn by dragging the UFC champ through the most grueling 25-minute fight of his MMA career. Both fighters could hardly stand on their own two feet by the time the final bell sounded.

Light heavyweight contender Cormier recently told Yahoo Sports that he believes the fight with Gustafsson changed Jones.

“He had to reach so deep into his soul to win that last fight, I truly believe he doesn’t want to fight Alex again,” said Cormier. “Alex took him somewhere he’d never been before and he doesn’t want to go there ever again.”

All three judges scored the fight in Jones’ favor, but there was no doubt the champ held on by the skin of his teeth. Many in the MMA community felt Gustafsson did enough to earn the decision. If anything, they surely felt he was deserving of an immediate rematch.

But UFC President Dana White told ESPN.com in October of last year that Jones asked for Glover Teixeira instead of a rematch with Gustafsson. In a statement released by the UFC, per ESPN.com, Jones validated White’s comments by listing his personal itinerary.

He wanted to crush the UFC record for successful light heavyweight title defenses. After he defeated Teixeira, Jones promised fans a rematch with Gustafsson.

“I will fight Gustafsson after I fight Glover. I won the fight but I look at it as a blemish on my record because some people think I didn’t. I promise you, he will be next,” said Jones.

Fast-forward several months, and it’s like deja vu in the light heavyweight title picture. Gustafsson is once again the clear-cut No. 1 contender, but Jones has yet to sign the bout agreement.

White told UFC.com’s Matt Parrino that Jones is now seeking a fight with Cormier instead of Gustafsson. Even Cormier was dumbfounded when he heard about his name being thrown into the conversation, per Yahoo Sports:

I honestly don’t think Jon is afraid, but Alex pushed him to a point in that fight where I don’t think he ever wants to go again. So obviously, this might benefit me in the long run. And if Jon really believes that I would be the tougher fight, then he would be doing it for the right reason. But if he is saying he wants to fight me because he believes I’d be an easier guy? Man, I don’t know. That’s not good.

The MMA world is always quick to judge and criticize Jones, but at the end of the day, Cormier believes the champ will do the right thing, whether he wants to or not.

“As the champion, it’s his obligation to fight the guy they say is the top challenger, and right now, that is Alexander Gustafsson,” said Cormier. “It’s been strange. At the end of the day, he’ll probably end up fighting Gustafsson again, but this isn’t something he’s volunteering for, I can tell you that.”

 

Jordy McElroy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA writer for Rocktagon.

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Jon Jones Still Hasn’t Signed Contract for Alexander Gustafsson Rematch, Wants Daniel Cormier Instead [UPDATED]


(“Yes, you…the tall kid in the back.” / Photo via MMAWeekly)

During a recent “UFC Embedded” video blog, we saw Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta meet with Jon Jones‘s manager in order to lock down a rematch between Jones and top light-heavyweight contender Alexander Gustafsson. That footage was filmed two weeks ago, and so far, no progress has been made on the fight. Jones’s camp has refused to sign for undisclosed reasons, which probably have to do with money, timing, or both. Luckily, Daniel Cormier has figured out a solution to this stalemate:

“I know this will probably be unpopular,” Cormier told Franklin McNeil of SportsWorldNews.com. “But if [Jones] won’t sign, whether it be for money or a lack of wanting to fight the kid, I’ll fight Alexander Gustafsson. But it should be for the interim title…If they’re putting a belt on the line, I don’t care what date it is. It was never about Jones, I just want the title. Besides, it’ll work out better for [Jones]; he won’t have to fight both of us.”

Keep in mind that Cormier’s knee is a giant question mark right now, which puts his interim title fight suggestion squarely into “just sayin’ stuff” territory. Plus, the UFC usually creates interim titles as a last resort — not a couple months after a healthy champion’s last defense. Furthermore, Cormier’s tongue-in-cheek line that Jones wouldn’t have to fight both DC and Gustafsson is probably the best reason why the UFC wouldn’t pursue this plan.


(“Yes, you…the tall kid in the back.” / Photo via MMAWeekly)

During a recent “UFC Embedded” video blog, we saw Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta meet with Jon Jones‘s manager in order to lock down a rematch between Jones and top light-heavyweight contender Alexander Gustafsson. That footage was filmed two weeks ago, and so far, no progress has been made on the fight. Jones’s camp has refused to sign for undisclosed reasons, which probably have to do with money, timing, or both. Luckily, Daniel Cormier has figured out a solution to this stalemate:

“I know this will probably be unpopular,” Cormier told Franklin McNeil of SportsWorldNews.com. “But if [Jones] won’t sign, whether it be for money or a lack of wanting to fight the kid, I’ll fight Alexander Gustafsson. But it should be for the interim title…If they’re putting a belt on the line, I don’t care what date it is. It was never about Jones, I just want the title. Besides, it’ll work out better for [Jones]; he won’t have to fight both of us.”

Keep in mind that Cormier’s knee is a giant question mark right now, which puts his interim title fight suggestion squarely into “just sayin’ stuff” territory. Plus, the UFC usually creates interim titles as a last resort — not a couple months after a healthy champion’s last defense. Furthermore, Cormier’s tongue-in-cheek line that Jones wouldn’t have to fight both DC and Gustafsson is probably the best reason why the UFC wouldn’t pursue this plan.

For once, the UFC has two marketable challengers lined up to throw at their longtime light-heavyweight ruler; that’s two great opportunities to haul in a ton of revenue from pay-per-view buys and ticket sales. Why would they eliminate one of those fights, when so few big-money matchups are on the horizon?

We appreciate Cormier’s moxie, but there’s no way this happens. Unless it does, of course. For better or worse, anything can happen in this crazy sport.

UPDATE: According to Dana White — who isn’t what you’d call a reliable narrator, but bear with us — Jones wants to fight Cormier instead of Gustafsson:

“Just to clear up a couple things, people think we’re in contract negotiations with Jon Jones — we’re not. Jon Jones still has five fights left on his contract,” White said Monday afternoon in an exclusive interview with UFC.com. “So what we’re doing right now is trying to get him to sign the bout agreement for Gustafsson. He doesn’t want to fight Gustafsson. … Lorenzo and I have a meeting with Jones on Thursday to get him to sign the bout agreement, and he’s asking to fight Cormier instead.” …White said if Jones doesn’t sign the contract, who knows, Cormier vs. Gustafsson could be the move.

Stay tuned for the inevitable Instagram video of Jones mocking fans who think he’s ducking Gustafsson.

UFC: Should Daniel Cormier Wait Around for a Title Shot?

The landscape of mixed martial arts is constantly shifting. Changes, both big and small, occur with such frequency—and for myriad reasons—that one’s plans become little more than tentative hopes.
It is with this fact in mind that Dani…

The landscape of mixed martial arts is constantly shifting. Changes, both big and small, occur with such frequency—and for myriad reasons—that one’s plans become little more than tentative hopes.

It is with this fact in mind that Daniel Cormier should choose his next step wisely.

Given recent performances, the 35-year-old former Olympian would appear to be guaranteed a shot at the light heavyweight title, but they don’t make guarantees like they used to.

Of course, it’s easy to sit on one’s couch and flippantly weigh in on how Cormier should proceed—as I’m doing now—but his path is perhaps less obvious than many seem to think.

Karim Zidan of Bloody Elbow notes that if you ask Dana White—and much of the fanbase—the American Kickboxing Academy standout should remain active while the Jon Jones-Alexander Gustafsson sequel plays out.

It’s not difficult to understand the UFC president’s perspective.

The organisation’s roster of name talent has been decimated by injuries, not to mention The Ultimate Fighter commitments. The last thing the UFC needs is another prominent name sitting on the shelf until the end of the year.

Cormier’s position is simple, though. At 35, his time in the sport is limited. Accepting any fight, regardless of how winnable it appears, comes with a certain amount of risk.

A momentary loss of concentration, a wild haymaker, and he could find himself dropping out of favour, forced to re-stake his claim to a title shot.

Considering what we witnessed at UFC 173, one should eliminate possibilities of one’s peril. The only sure thing in MMA is that there are no sure things. Take a peek at my predictions record if you need a little supporting empirical evidence.

Cormier has looked so formidable lately that the chances of him slipping up against any potential opponent appear slim, though. Indeed, any fight between now and the end of the year is only likely to boost his stock.

What Cormier doesn’t seem to be taking into consideration is how a lengthy layoff could impact his chances when he does eventually fight for the title.

Generally speaking, it is true enough that a 35-year-old has few opportunities left in the sport. Does he want to flirt with the possibility of turning up to one of said opportunities caked in ring rust?

It almost goes without saying at this point that Rashad Evans should be viewed as a cautionary tale for any fighter who considers sitting on the sidelines until his ticket comes up. Based on recent history, training in MMA is more difficult to negotiate safely than any contracted fight.

Training injuries are so common in the sport that the UFC should perhaps consider a participation bonus for simply showing up on fight night. Every news alert is greeted with a wince, as fans fear that yet another hotly anticipated bout has been lamed by the athletes’ head-scratching training practices.

Any path taken by Cormier requires traversing certain hazards, but the consequences of playing the waiting game are potentially disastrous.

This is the most pivotal moment of his career, and now is not the time to keep the bench warm.

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