Tag: daniel cormier

UFC 165: Best Opponents for Jon Jones After Major Victory

Jon Jones’ unanimous-decision victory over Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165 on Saturday pushed the light heavyweight champion as much as he has been pushed in a title defence thus far in his career.
The Swedish challenger can count himself unfortu…

Jon Jones’ unanimous-decision victory over Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165 on Saturday pushed the light heavyweight champion as much as he has been pushed in a title defence thus far in his career.

The Swedish challenger can count himself unfortunate not to have come out on top of even one judge’s card. Jones’ hard-fought win gave the reigning champ a reminder that the rest of the division is hot on his heels.  

With the win behind him, it’s onward and upward for the world’s pound-for-pound No. 1-ranked fighter, who has several particular options ahead of him for his next encounter, including a few cross-weight suggestions.

 

Daniel Cormier

A fighter whom Jones has been going back and forth with for some time now, Daniel Cormier is somewhat of an outside bet to face the reigning champ next.

Appearing on The Jim Rome Show recently, Jones said that he “doesn’t respect him [Cormier] at all,” and that he “definitely won’t get a title shot.”

For “Bones,” taking on the wrestler would be all risk and little reward. Cormier would either need to drop down to light heavyweight, or Jones would have to bulk up to move to heavyweight.

While the 26-year-old may have moved to dissuade the suggestion of a Cormier meeting, stranger things have happened in the UFC, so the matchup can’t be ruled out.

 

Glover Teixeira

Gustafsson made Jones look as ordinary as ever before, showing that he is in fact human and just as vulnerable to a loss as any other fighter.

It seems Glover Teixeira knew this all too well before UFC 165 had even taken place. He was quoted by MMA Fighting as saying “every phenom has his day.”

The Brazilian is right and has every reason to be confident, given the manner in which he finished off Ryan Bader three weeks ago.

Speaking on a potential fight with Teixeira, Jones is reported by MMA Fighting as saying that the South American won’t be the man to beat him, but the veteran is nonetheless among the most logical next steps for the champion.

 

Alexander Gustafsson

Given the manner in which he lost to Jones, it’s not surprising to hear that Gustafsson is ready for another round with Bones.

Talking to Fox Sports (h/t Sherdog’s Mike Whitman), “The Mauler” said that he’s “down whenever” and would want a rematch “right away if I can.”

While it may not have been expected in the build-up, Gustafsson took Jones far closer to the wire than many anticipated and gave the kind of performance that fans would almost certainly pay to see again.

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Trash Talk Heating Up Between Roy Nelson and Daniel Cormier Heading into UFC 166

Heavy hands are going to be thrown when Roy Nelson and Daniel Cormier step into the Octagon at UFC 166 on Oct. 10, but bombs of the verbal variety are already being launched. While the two heavyweights are set to collide next month in Houston…

Heavy hands are going to be thrown when Roy Nelson and Daniel Cormier step into the Octagon at UFC 166 on Oct. 10, but bombs of the verbal variety are already being launched. While the two heavyweights are set to collide next month in Houston, the “war of the words” is well under way.

In the tactical strategy/mind games department, the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix winner intends to file a complaint with the Texas Athletic Commission about “Big Country’s” grizzly beard. He will request the commission make Nelson trim his facial hair before the fight. The former The Ultimate Fighter winner’s beard is the 36-year-old’s signature look, but Cormier believes it could cause issues if the fight moves into close quarters.

When the brick-handed Las Vegas native was asked to share his feelings about Cormier‘s complaint by Ariel Helwani on UFC Tonight, Nelson used the platform to lob a nuke in “D.C.’s” direction—and his response ratcheted up the intensity in the trash-talk category.

“If this beard is giving me an unfair advantage like Cormier is claiming,” Nelson said via Helwani, “then he should have had a beard when he failed in the Olympics back in 2008 and 2004.”

When informed of the heavyweight knockout artist’s jab, Cormier upped the ante on his original stance.

“Alright, at first I was going to ask him to trim the beard,” the Louisiana native said. “Now, he really pissed me off and now I want all of it off.”

While the two fighters have exchanged barbs in the past, Nelson’s latest remarks on Wednesday night took aim at a personal sore spot for Cormier. Despite his success as a wrestler on the collegiate and Olympic levels, one of the most disappointing moments in the AKA-trained fighter’s athletic career came in the 2008 games.

Despite being named team captain and coming into Beijing with high expectations, Cormier suffered complications (dehydration and kidney failure) during his weight cut and was forced to withdraw. The situation has haunted him for years, and Nelson attacking the subject will ensure the friction between them will increase in the buildup to their collision at UFC 166. 

It will be interesting to see how the Texas Athletic Commission handles Cormier‘s compliant in regard to Nelson’s beard. Whether the commission will make Nelson lose the beard entirely remains to be seen, but with his response to the matter at hand on Wednesday night, it’s clear Big Country doesn’t care for Cormier making an issue out of anything that doesn’t involve their direct fight.

 

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

 

 

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Trash Talk Heating Up Between Roy Nelson and Daniel Cormier Heading into UFC 166

Heavy hands are going to be thrown when Roy Nelson and Daniel Cormier step into the Octagon at UFC 166 on Oct. 10, but bombs of the verbal variety are already being launched. While the two heavyweights are set to collide next month in Houston…

Heavy hands are going to be thrown when Roy Nelson and Daniel Cormier step into the Octagon at UFC 166 on Oct. 10, but bombs of the verbal variety are already being launched. While the two heavyweights are set to collide next month in Houston, the “war of the words” is well under way.

In the tactical strategy/mind games department, the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix winner intends to file a complaint with the Texas Athletic Commission about “Big Country’s” grizzly beard. He will request the commission make Nelson trim his facial hair before the fight. The former The Ultimate Fighter winner’s beard is the 36-year-old’s signature look, but Cormier believes it could cause issues if the fight moves into close quarters.

When the brick-handed Las Vegas native was asked to share his feelings about Cormier‘s complaint by Ariel Helwani on UFC Tonight, Nelson used the platform to lob a nuke in “D.C.’s” direction—and his response ratcheted up the intensity in the trash-talk category.

“If this beard is giving me an unfair advantage like Cormier is claiming,” Nelson said via Helwani, “then he should have had a beard when he failed in the Olympics back in 2008 and 2004.”

When informed of the heavyweight knockout artist’s jab, Cormier upped the ante on his original stance.

“Alright, at first I was going to ask him to trim the beard,” the Louisiana native said. “Now, he really pissed me off and now I want all of it off.”

While the two fighters have exchanged barbs in the past, Nelson’s latest remarks on Wednesday night took aim at a personal sore spot for Cormier. Despite his success as a wrestler on the collegiate and Olympic levels, one of the most disappointing moments in the AKA-trained fighter’s athletic career came in the 2008 games.

Despite being named team captain and coming into Beijing with high expectations, Cormier suffered complications (dehydration and kidney failure) during his weight cut and was forced to withdraw. The situation has haunted him for years, and Nelson attacking the subject will ensure the friction between them will increase in the buildup to their collision at UFC 166. 

It will be interesting to see how the Texas Athletic Commission handles Cormier‘s compliant in regard to Nelson’s beard. Whether the commission will make Nelson lose the beard entirely remains to be seen, but with his response to the matter at hand on Wednesday night, it’s clear Big Country doesn’t care for Cormier making an issue out of anything that doesn’t involve their direct fight.

 

Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.

 

 

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Jon Jones: Daniel Cormier ‘Definitely Won’t Be Getting a Title Fight’

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.
Appe…

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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Glover Teixeira on Jon Jones: ‘Every Phenom Goes Down One Day’

UFC light heavyweight title contender Glover Teixeira believes divisional champion Jon Jones will take out Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165 on Saturday, setting up a title tilt between them. 
Speaking with MMA Fighting, the Brazilian slugger expres…

UFC light heavyweight title contender Glover Teixeira believes divisional champion Jon Jones will take out Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165 on Saturday, setting up a title tilt between them. 

Speaking with MMA Fighting, the Brazilian slugger expressed his desire to take the 205-pound crown from “Bones:”

“Jon Jones is at the top for a long time, can’t say enough about him,” he said. “But I have to take this belt from him. Every phenom goes down one day … My style may look like Rampage’s, but you can be sure that I’m hungrier than Rampage to win,” he said. “This is my moment. I’m very happy for this opportunity and I will get this belt.” 

Shortly after Teixeira knocked out Ryan Bader at UFC Fight Night 27 earlier this month, Jones likened Teixeira’s fighting style to that of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson:

Regardless of any similarities between Teixeira and the ex-UFC champ, who Jones holds a win over, the heavy-handed Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt has won 20 in a row, including five wins (four stoppages) inside the Octagon. 

However, UFC President Dana White said on Thursday that UFC heavyweight contender Daniel Cormier will “probably” get the next shot at Jones, if the champ wins on Saturday, and “DC” defeats Roy Nelson at UFC 166 (via Bloody Elbow).

Therefore, a potential Jones vs. Teixeira showdown could be on hold if Cormier wins in convincing fashion next month. 

Meanwhile, Jones has a chance to break Tito Ortiz’s UFC light heavyweight record of five consecutive title defenses if he can get past Gustafsson on the 21st.

Will Teixeira be the man to end Jones’ reign atop the light heavyweight division or will Gustafsson, or possibly even Cormier, beat him to it?

 

John Heinis is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA Editor for eDraft.com.

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Daniel Cormier ‘Probably’ Lands Title Shot Against Jon Jones with Win at UFC 166

Daniel Cormier has long talked about dropping down to light heavyweight and getting a shot at champion Jon Jones, and it seems he may get his wish if he can get past Roy Nelson at UFC 166 next month.
During a Google Hangout session with UFC president D…

Daniel Cormier has long talked about dropping down to light heavyweight and getting a shot at champion Jon Jones, and it seems he may get his wish if he can get past Roy Nelson at UFC 166 next month.

During a Google Hangout session with UFC president Dana White, via Fox Sports, on Thursday, he was posed with the question about the fight.

White was asked specifically if Cormier beats Nelson and Jones beats Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165, if those to would fight next.

“Yeah, probably,” White revealed. “Yep.”

This news comes as a shock after just a week ago Glover Teixeira was declared the new No. 1 contender when he knocked out Ryan Bader in the first round of their fight at UFC Fight Night 28 in Brazil.

It was stated on the night of the fight that Teixeira would receive the next shot at the gold against the winner of the fight between Jones and Gustafsson. It’s unclear if White had a change of heart in the matter or was just caught off guard with the question on Thursday, but he’s now throwing Cormier‘s name into the mix as a potential No. 1 contender.

Cormier still hasn’t even made the move to light heavyweight officially, but he’s already cutting the weight ahead of his fight against Nelson in October.

The plan the former Olympic team captain set up is to start dropping a few pounds as he gets ready for Nelson, and then after the fight make the move down to 205 pounds.

While it’s true that Cormier has never fought at light heavyweight, he does bring an impressive resume to the division if he does drop down and get an immediate title shot. He already holds wins over UFC heavyweight mainstays such as Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva, Frank Mir and Josh Barnett.

If the former Oklahoma State wrestler can dispatch of Nelson in October, that would add another top-10 fighter to the win column—something Teixeira can’t yet boast in his UFC career.

As it happens many times when it comes to UFC matchmaking, the real answer will probably come after Cormier fights Nelson at UFC 166. If he looks impressive and dominates or finishes the former Ultimate Fighter winner, it will go a long way towards earning the shot against Jones or Gustafsson for the title.

The only person not happy to hear there’s another contender in the race has to be Teixeira, who was already in the top spot until Thursday.

Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report

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