UFC President Dana White may have made a big promise he can’t keep when he announced Alexander Gustafsson would get the winner of Jon Jones vs. Glover Teixeira. He certainly hasn’t seemed to realize that, though, as he just announced Daniel Cormier wil…
UFC President Dana White may have made a big promise he can’t keep when he announced Alexander Gustafsson would get the winner of Jon Jones vs. Glover Teixeira. He certainly hasn’t seemed to realize that, though, as he just announced Daniel Cormier will fight the winner of the purely hypothetical Jones/Teixeira vs. Gustafsson match. Via Twitter:
@FantasyMoneyMan u will see him against the winner of Jones/Glover vs Gus
It’s worth noting that Jones vs. Teixeira is not a slam dunk for the long-reigning light heavyweight champ, due to Teixeira’s massive punching power. However, given Jones’ success over the last four years, it’s hard to believe “Bones” wouldn’t get an immediate rematch unless the bout was shockingly, anomalously lopsided. That, however, hasn’t stopped White from flatly, seemingly irrevocably, saying that Gustafsson has the next crack at the light heavyweight belt.
Suffice it to say, White is biting off more than he can chew in the promises department by promising Gustafsson a title fight after Jones vs. Teixeira. Flatly saying who will get the winner of that fight? Well, that’s just silly.
Not only that, but Cormier is by no means an established stud at light heavyweight at this point. While his skills are beyond question, questions still linger regarding how they will hold up at light heavyweight, given his difficult weight cut. While he squashed Pat Cummins in a short-notice fight, Cummins was quite literally somebody the UFC found on the street.
Not only that, but Cormier has expressed interest in fighting one more time to legitimately earn a title shot:
“@Brucknerno7: @dc_mma winner of Phil vs Anthony. winner of Shogun vs Hendo. which one?” Anyone bro
For many of the UFC’s formative years, light heavyweight was the company’s undisputed glamor division.
The 205-pound class became comfortably ensconced as the UFC’s marquee attraction from roughly 2000-07, when stars like Chuck Liddell, Randy Cou…
For many of the UFC’s formative years, light heavyweight was the company’s undisputed glamor division.
The 205-pound class became comfortably ensconced as the UFC’s marquee attraction from roughly 2000-07, when stars like Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture and Tito Ortiz carried the torch. In more recent years, light heavyweight lost a step; first as a series of lesser champions passed the belt around like a hot potato, then after Jon Jones turned the title picture into a one-man show.
The 26-year-old champion’s ascendance has itself been a thing of unmistakable beauty, but to the extent there was much drama in it, Jones snuffed it out with one lopsided victory after another.
In the wake last weekend’s UFC London event, however, it appears 205 pounds might be poised for a return to greatness, with a robust crop of contenders suddenly hot on Bones’ heels.
As Glover Teixeira, Alexander Gustafsson and Daniel Cormier all stand ready to give Jones their best shots during 2014, this could be the year light heavyweight finally reclaims its rightful place in the UFC’s vanguard.
Thank Gustafsson for keeping things interesting, as he made fairly quick and easy work of JimiManuwa on Saturday in a classic just-don’t-screw-it-up matchup, if there ever was one. By trumping Manuwa in impressive fashion, Gustafsson simultaneously beat back Cormier’s bid to usurp him as the next title challenger and reaffirmed the likelihood of a rematch against Jones sometime this summer.
The champion already has an interesting title defense against Teixeira on the books for next month at UFC 172 and with Phil Davis meeting Anthony Johnson in another compelling contender bout at the same event, light heavyweight unexpectedly feels as fun as it has in years.
We abruptly seem a world away from August 2012, when the division arguably hit rock bottom after an injury to Dan Henderson forced the cancellation of UFC 151. That calamity—a first in the organization’s history—cast the 205-pound landscape into a quagmire that eventually saw Jones reduced to defending the title against middleweights in consecutive appearances at UFCs 152 and 159.
Light heavyweight was still limping along in the shadow of that mess when he got an unexpected wake-up call from Gustafsson at UFC 165 last September. In pushing the champion to the brink in the best fight of 2013, Gustafsson effectively dashed Jones’ aura of invincibility and planted seeds for the 205-pound renaissance we see now.
Jones himself unwittingly stirred the pot of public intrigue in the wake of Gustafsson’s win over Manuwa. He took to Twitter to suggest (quite innocuously, really) that perhaps Cormier and Gustafsson ought to next fight each other in a title eliminator.
As with everything Jones does, the reaction from MMA fans was swift and ridiculous. This time Jones’ detractors even went as far as to suggest he was looking for a way to “duck” one or both of his next challengers.
Of course, that idea is ludicrous, but perhaps the fact it was floated at all is a positive commentary on the overall health of the division at present. Together, Gustafsson and Cormier represent the two most significant threats to the Jon Jones Era since he won the title three years ago.
Whether they can articulate it properly or not, fans appear to know that, which can only mean good things for the immediate future of 205 pounds. Guys like Cormier, Gustafsson, Teixeira, Davis and Johnson are exactly what this division needed—a fresh slate of foils to replace the ones Jones battered and dismissed during his first six UFC title fights.
To make matters even more interesting, there seems to be some legitimate heat between them. The typically mild-mannered Gustafsson cut off UFC post-fight interviewer Dan Hardy mid-sentence over the weekend in order to take the microphone and tell Jones he was coming for him.
For his part, Jones appears irked by the entire idea of Cormier as a light heavyweight title contender and even Davis has gotten in a few verbal barbs of late, saying he felt like Jones “wants more of the softer side of the division,” via MMA Fighting’s Dave Doyle.
If 2014 manages to produce a trio of interesting title fights for Jones, each against a man seemingly more capable of dethroning him than the last, it will amount to a significant win for the 205-pound division at large.
As the greatest champion his weight class has ever seen, Jones has always had the potential to bring light heavyweight back to the mountaintop.
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has been accused of ducking a rematch with top contender Alexander Gustafsson, as well as a bout with undefeated former Olympian Daniel Cormier.
However, “Bones” maintains that he welcomes any and all chal…
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has been accused of ducking a rematch with top contender Alexander Gustafsson, as well as a bout with undefeated former Olympian Daniel Cormier.
However, “Bones” maintains that he welcomes any and all challengers at 205 pounds and questions if perhaps Gustafsson and Cormier are purposely avoiding an obvious fight with each other.
I see DC congratulating Alexander and making comments about waiting his turn now.. I wonder if they’re afraid to fight each other?
Gustafsson headlined UFC Fight Night 37 Saturday night in London, scoring a vicious second-round knockout over previously undefeated prospect Jimi Manuwa.
As Jones noted, Cormier, the No. 5 light heavyweight in the UFC’s official rankings, acknowledged “The Mauler” is next in line.
Good luck @AlexTheMauler in ur title fight. Dang! Haha my time will come. DC
For what it’s worth, Cormier was quick to respond to Jones and state that he had no problem throwing down with Gustafsson in a title eliminator to decide who gets the next crack at UFC gold.
He also noted that he doesn’t think Jones is avoiding a fight with anyone.
@JonnyBones I would fight @AlexTheMauler to earn shot if @ufc wants me to. Sadly i don’t think ur gonna get away w/o fightin both of us DC
Gustafsson battled Jones for the light heavyweight strap at UFC 165 in September in a 25-minute classic, losing a very close, at least somewhat controversial decision.
The back-and-forth technical battle was widely regarded as 2013’s Fight of the Year.
Jones, who has won 10 straight bouts with eight finishes, looks to make it seven straight title defenses against Glover Teixeira at UFC 172 on April 26.
Is booking Cormier vs. Gustafsson in a title eliminator the right move for the UFC’s light heavyweight division, or would it be smarter to keep two viable contenders in the division who are primed for a title shot?
John Heinis is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA editor for eDraft.com.
(Skip to 2:08 to see Georges St. Pierre as “Batroc the Leaper” in this new clip from Captain America: The Winter Soldier. / Props: Marvel Entertainment)
(Skip to 2:08 to see Georges St. Pierre as “Batroc the Leaper” in this new clip from Captain America: The Winter Soldier. / Props: Marvel Entertainment)
There is something beyond the physical act of returning to the place you come from that helps put the movie of life into perspective. Things tend to slow down and snap into focus, providing an outline to the route traveled from a personal starting poin…
There is something beyond the physical act of returning to the place you come from that helps put the movie of life into perspective. Things tend to slow down and snap into focus, providing an outline to the route traveled from a personal starting point.
Daniel Cormier has never forgotten the place that molded and prepared him for the road ahead. Before he was a standout collegiate wrestler, a two-time Olympian and an undefeated contender in two divisions in the UFC, “D.C.” was a kid from Louisiana who was looking to make good on lofty dreams.
This past week, the 34-year-old returned—with family in tow—to give something back to the community that helped build his foundation.
Coming off a successful showing in his first bout in the 205-pound ranks, the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix winner could have tuned out the world and settled into a well-earned vacation back home in Lafayette, La., and the world would have continued to turn. Yet, as a product of that environment, he was aware of how important it was for someone of his stature to give back, and that’s exactly what he decided to do.
In cooperation with several wrestling clubs in the Lafayette area, he held a free wrestling seminar for children in his hometown. Throughout his career, he has been vocal about how wrestling shaped him as a man. He was not going to pass up the opportunity to provide guidance and tutelage to youths who are standing in shoes he once wore.
“I have a friend who has a youth club down in Lafayette,” Cormier told Bleacher Report. “He’s the coach—been coaching for a long time—and I asked him to get in contact with the rest of the clubs here and tell them I was going to do a free two-hour seminar. I just remember growing up that I had to go all over the country to get time with Olympians and NCAA champions. I had to constantly travel to work with national champions and next-level wrestlers who could teach me a lot of the things I needed to learn. Being from here, I figured I could just set something up and give it away for free.
“It’s unbelievable what this sport has done for me. I think it’s great not only because I’m able to give something to these kids they wouldn’t normally get, but I just believe so much in this sport. Not only do I think this sport helps you physically and mentally, it helps you learn how to stand on your own.
“When you go play basketball you have five people on that court with you who are your teammates. When you play football there is 11. But in wrestling, it teaches you how to be confident enough to go into the middle of the gym by yourself and compete.
“When you do that, you can do just about anything,” he added. “I believe that so much, and the chance to give back to these kids and give them a chance to take from it what I took from it is an opportunity you can’t really pass up.”
After his victory at UFC 170, Cormier will enjoy his week back in “The Bayou State” just as his new division and the title picture at 205 are about to heat up. Recent title challenger Alexander Gustafsson will step back into action on Saturday to face Jimi Manuwa in London, and “The Mauler” is set to earn another title opportunity should he defeat the heavy-handed Brit.
With a Gustafsson win, Cormier’s path to the title will take an extended route. Yet, if the Swede falls on Saturday, the AKA staple is looking to make a serious play for championship gold.
And that is where things get tricky.
With his current position in the light heavyweight fold being somewhat uncertain at the present time, his next step will be determined by how several high-profile matchups play out in the coming weeks. He could potentially face a number of top-ranked fighters who will be coming out of showcase tilts, and he’s ready to charge in whatever direction is needed.
That said, he wants nothing more than a shot at the title and champion Jon Jones. While he knows that a win over a green prospect like Patrick Cummins isn’t a qualifier, he has decided to turn the spotlight on the impressive resume he’s built in his short career. Cormier has defeated a collection of vastly more experienced former champions and contenders and believes his past work and accomplishments should warrant him a title opportunity.
“There really aren’t many opportunities to get back in there right now because everyone that’s highly ranked are all tied up,” Cormier said. “The only fighter open would be [Antonio Rogerio] Nogueira, and I don’t really know what he’s doing right now. If he’s healthy, I’d love to fight him. He’s a veteran, and I think he’s accomplished a lot in this sport. He’s the only guy that isn’t tied up with a fight right now, but I don’t have a problem waiting.
“[Alexander] Gustafsson fights this weekend, and we’ll see how he does. If he wins, I think he definitely deserves his rematch, then I would fight the winner of Anthony Johnson vs. Phil Davis or Shogun Rua and Dan Henderson have a fight coming up too. There are options after all these fights take place, but there is really nothing out there for me right now. I just have to wait, hold tight, and if Gustafsson does not win, hope the UFC sees that I’m the next guy that should rightfully fight for the championship.”
While Cormier’s vision of the landscape of the division’s upper tier seems accurate, he wasn’t done making his case. The undefeated contender added another wrinkle to what has become a crowded picture.
“Here are some quick facts, so listen to this,” Cormier explained. “Nick Diaz fought for a UFC championship. Gilbert Melendez is going on his second title shot. Alistair Overeem was scheduled to fight for a championship. Dan Henderson was scheduled to fight for the championship against Jon Jones, but it got cancelled. Jake Shields and Miesha Tate have both fought for championships. Luke Rockhold is the only outside of myself that was a Strikeforce belt holder and that has not fought for a belt yet.
“If Gustafsson wins, he rightfully deserves his rematch. That said, if Gustafsson doesn’t win, I don’t see why I wouldn’t get my chance when everyone else has gotten a chance to fight for a title in the UFC. I’m by no means saying I’m trying to skip him, but I’m ready to fight for the belt. I think it’s time.
“This is also a situation you have to be careful in,” he added. “After winning my last fight, I don’t want to seem cartoonish by asking for a title shot after beating a guy who was 4-0. I understand that, and I get it. I’m not asking for a championship fight based on that. I’m asking for a championship fight based on my resume and my career.
“When I had seven wins, I was fighting Jeff Monson, who had 60 fights. I fought Bigfoot Silva when I was less than two years into my career. I beat Josh Barnett and Frank Mir, who were both former UFC champions. I beat Roy Nelson, who has been a Top 10 guy for a very long time. I’m asking for a title shot based on the four Top 10 wins I have over the course of my career.”
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
It’s going to take a lot more than knocking out Patrick Cummins for Daniel Cormier to convince Jon Jones that he’s ready for a shot at the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
The former Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix champion has sacrif…
It’s going to take a lot more than knocking out Patrick Cummins for Daniel Cormier to convince Jon Jones that he’s ready for a shot at the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
The former Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix champion has sacrificed everything, including Popeyes chicken, to drop down to 205 pounds. Now that the hard part is over, Cormier is finally in a position to challenge Jones for the light heavyweight title.
There’s no secret that he and Jones have had their share of problems in the past, mostly related to fat jokes and several other Twitter spats. When speaking with Fox Sports, Cormier took the initiative and pushed all of the past drama aside, respectfully asking Jones for a title shot.
“Hey Jon, this is Daniel Cormier — bro, brother, would you be willing to give me a title shot? I’m asking nicely. I’m not being aggressive. I’m not trying to be confrontational, Jon, I’m just asking. Would you be willing to give me a chance to fight? Please, brother, please. Make the decision.”
Cormier’s resume speaks for itself.
The former Olympian boasts an undefeated professional record with lopsided wins over Josh Barnett, Antonio Silva, Frank Mir and Roy Nelson. At UFC 170, he was originally slated to make his light heavyweight debut against former UFC champ Rashad Evans, but plans were scrapped when “Suga” suffered a serious knee injury in training.
Instead, the UFC brought in Cummins, an inexperienced MMA fighter who was working at a local coffee shop in Orange County, California. The 4-0 light heavyweight prospect received his UFC wake-up call after getting trounced by Cormier in just 89 seconds.
Unfortunately for Cormier, his impromptu quickie at UFC 170 didn’t impress Jones. The reigning light heavyweight champ left a message of his own, responding to Cormier’s pleas for a title shot.
“First and foremost, since you’re speaking more respectfully, I’ll say congratulations on your victory and your weight loss,” Jones told Fox Sports’ Damon Martin. “But as far as giving you a title shot, I have no interest in fighting you right now, only because of the fact that you really haven’t fought anyone that I consider a top-level fighter.”
The champ continued:
I’m kind of sick of seeing UFC light heavyweights fight against kind of like ‘cans’ until they get a title shot. I really want to see a top contender fight a top contender and I think you need to fight someone a little bit more well-known than Patrick Cummins. Fight against Rashad [Evans], fight against somebody legit, man. Then I think it would be a little more appropriate to give you that title shot.
It is widely believed that Alexander Gustafsson is next in line for a title shot if he gets past Jimi Manuwa at UFC Fight Night: London on Saturday. Even if Gustafsson loses, or Jones falls to Glover Teixeira at UFC 172, one has to believe Phil Davis still has a leg up on Cormier in the light heavyweight division as well.
Cormier is without question one of the best fighters in the world, but there was already a line in place at 205 pounds before he got there.
One would be hard-pressed to think that a win over Cummins magically pushes him to the forefront of the title picture.
In a sense, changing weight classes should be considered as starting over. We all know how good Cormier is, but that doesn’t mean he gets to cut in line.
For many of the UFC’s formative years, light heavyweight was the company’s undisputed glamor division.