Tag: Interview

Jon Jones Tired of Talking About Daniel Cormier, Cormier Not Tired of Verbally Owning Jones


(“Short? No cardio? That’s not what your mother said last night.” / Photo via Getty Images)

Over the course of his dominant UFC career, Jon Jones had proven at least two things — he is an amazing fighter, and it isn’t that hard to get under his skin. Although, as Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Rashad Evans can attest to, simply making Jones feel uncomfortable and irritable doesn’t make much of a difference when it’s time to actually fight him.

Jones is making his next light-heavyweight title defense against Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165 in September, but the Swede isn’t the guy “Bones” is tired of talking about. That would be heavyweight contender and two-time Olympian Daniel Cormier.

Cormier faces Roy Nelson next in a winner-eats-town bout at UFC 166, but after that, the undersized heavyweight says that he is moving down to Jones’s division and that he plans to get an immediate title shot once he does. No less than UFC President Dana White has all but said the same.

This, combined with the near-constant battle of tweets and words between DC and JJ has apparently tried Jones’s patience a bit too much. Recently, while on the UFC’s “World Tour,” the 205-pound kingpin was asked, for what has to feel like the millionth time, about Cormier challenging him. Jones got downright catty with his response.

Trying out his best high school girl insults, Jones said that Cormier is short, fat, and that he isn’t even popular. “I hate answering questions about him,” Jones said of Cormier.

“I don’t think he wants to work hard. I think he just wants to be famous. You can see it in his physique…He has, like, 20,000 Twitter followers. He has short reach, bad cardio [and] he looked terrible in his last fight. It’s like, I’m not worried about him at all.”


(“Short? No cardio? That’s not what your mother said last night.” / Photo via Getty Images)

Over the course of his dominant UFC career, Jon Jones had proven at least two things — he is an amazing fighter, and it isn’t that hard to get under his skin. Although, as Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Rashad Evans can attest to, simply making Jones feel uncomfortable and irritable doesn’t make much of a difference when it’s time to actually fight him.

Jones is making his next light-heavyweight title defense against Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165 in September, but the Swede isn’t the guy “Bones” is tired of talking about. That would be heavyweight contender and two-time Olympian Daniel Cormier.

Cormier faces Roy Nelson next in a winner-eats-town bout at UFC 166, but after that, the undersized heavyweight says that he is moving down to Jones’s division and that he plans to get an immediate title shot once he does. No less than UFC President Dana White has all but said the same.

This, combined with the near-constant battle of tweets and words between DC and JJ has apparently tried Jones’s patience a bit too much. Recently, while on the UFC’s “World Tour,” the 205-pound kingpin was asked, for what has to feel like the millionth time, about Cormier challenging him. Jones got downright catty with his response.

Trying out his best high school girl insults, Jones said that Cormier is short, fat, and that he isn’t even popular. “I hate answering questions about him,” Jones said of Cormier.

“I don’t think he wants to work hard. I think he just wants to be famous. You can see it in his physique…He has, like, 20,000 Twitter followers. He has short reach, bad cardio [and] he looked terrible in his last fight. It’s like, I’m not worried about him at all.”

If Jones isn’t worried about a guy who would be the first person he’s ever faced that can take him down, and a man who just four years into his MMA career has already dominated two former heavyweight champions, then he’s lying or delusional. But despite the fact that he and Cormier appear to almost certainly be headed towards one another should they win their next fights, Jones insists that Cormier isn’t relevant to him.

“He’s just not relevant to me,” Jones said. “There’s so many great fighters in the light-heavyweight division. He’s not even top five in his division. I’m not sure if he is.”

Yeah, Jon, he is. Cormier is, at worst, the number three heavyweight in the world right now, despite having the height of a lightweight. And yes, Jon, everyone wants to see the two of you fight.

And for the record, Cormier like, totally has almost 60,000 twitter followers, so there. Faced with Jones’ hissy fit, Cormier decided to take the higher-looking road when he appeared on Fuel TV recently.

“When I heard his quote, it’s like a 16-year old girl,” Cormier said. “Jon Jones, grow up bud. We’re going to fight regardless of how you feel. And when we do and I’m cutting the line and you might as well pull guard because I’m taking you down.”

Who do you got, nation? Jon Jones, fueled by teen-like angst and awkwardness or Cormier with his super-chub Olympic powers and grown ass man strength?

– Elias Cepeda

[VIDEO] Countdown to UFC 163

Are you ready for a behind the scenes look at recent the recent fights and training camps of Jose Aldo, The Korean Zombie (No, he does not have a real name any longer), Phil Davis and Lyoto Machida, all narrated by a gravely but comforting voice? I su…

Are you ready for a behind the scenes look at recent the recent fights and training camps of Jose Aldo, The Korean Zombie (No, he does not have a real name any longer), Phil Davis and Lyoto Machida, all narrated by a gravely but comforting voice? I sure as heck am!

Watch the full Countdown to UFC 163 video above to hear UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo talk about the thrill of fighting in his home country of Brazil, hear Mr. Zombie talk about jet lag and acculturation, see video of NCAA Division I Wrestling Champion Phil Davis get pinned in his first ever match and watch, unable to look away, former light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida drink liter after sudsy liter of his own urine.

– Elias Cepeda

Paul Daley Officially Enters the “Bargaining” Stage of His Post-UFC Career


(Oh, Paul, putting on nude puppet shows for strange old men? We never thought it would come to this. Photo via Esther Lin.) 

Paul Daley has seen some ups and downs since being ousted from the UFC, suffice it to say. Since sucker-punching Josh Koscheck after the final bell of their UFC 113 scrap, Daley has put together 10 wins alongside just 3 defeats under such promotions as Strikeforce, Bellator and the illustrious Shark Fights. Lately, however, legal/visa issues have prevented Daley from fighting in the US (where the real money is) and in fact saw him released from his Bellator contract just last week.

His back now against the wall, Daley has changed his tune in regards to his former promotion, thusly moving on to stage three of the five stages of grief: Bargaining. Daley first reached out to the UFC via his Facebook page:

Dana white “Paul Daley does not wanna be in the UFC”? Given the opportunity Dana , I would be right back in there, please just send me that contract.

Dana questioned about me again, Ariel saying he’s gonna get in touch with me, as we rally for a UFC return. Weather it happens or not, it’s kinda cool, that my recent performances and attitude has caught the attention of the big dogs, despite being on smaller shows.

Got an interview with Ariel Helwani tomorrow, seems talk of a UFC come back has gathered pace. Very important interview, as good a speaking with Dana himself…..oohh what to say?…Kinda nervous now….UFC Manchester? Diaz re-match, Sorry, I’ve grown up, I make weight…I’ve got a little son now…please help me feed him… 


(Oh, Paul, putting on nude puppet shows for strange old men? We never thought it would come to this. Photo via Esther Lin.) 

Paul Daley has seen some ups and downs since being ousted from the UFC, suffice it to say. Since sucker-punching Josh Koscheck after the final bell of their UFC 113 scrap, Daley has put together 10 wins alongside just 3 defeats under such promotions as Strikeforce, Bellator and the illustrious Shark Fights. Lately, however, legal/visa issues have prevented Daley from fighting in the US (where the real money is) and in fact saw him released from his Bellator contract just last week.

His back now against the wall, Daley has changed his tune in regards to his former promotion, thusly moving on to stage three of the five stages of grief: Bargaining. Daley first reached out to the UFC via his Facebook page:

Dana white “Paul Daley does not wanna be in the UFC”? Given the opportunity Dana , I would be right back in there, please just send me that contract.

Dana questioned about me again, Ariel saying he’s gonna get in touch with me, as we rally for a UFC return. Weather it happens or not, it’s kinda cool, that my recent performances and attitude has caught the attention of the big dogs, despite being on smaller shows.

Got an interview with Ariel Helwani tomorrow, seems talk of a UFC come back has gathered pace. Very important interview, as good a speaking with Dana himself…..oohh what to say?…Kinda nervous now….UFC Manchester? Diaz re-match, Sorry, I’ve grown up, I make weight…I’ve got a little son now…please help me feed him… 

I don’t know about you, but “Help me feed my son” is my favorite form of heartstring-pulling, right up there with “Being on enter reality show here is my destiny, you guys!” Now all Daley needs to do is videotape himself selling flowers on the freeway and his audition tape will be complete!

When questioned on the potential of a Daley UFC return during the UFC on FOX 8 media scrum, Dana White was shockingly pessimistic.

“I thought he hated this place,” said White. “I heard he couldn’t get a visa. And they’re real strict here now on visas. I thought he hated the UFC and said he’d never want to come back here and never wanted to fight here again. What changed?” ”I don’t know, man. I don’t think so.”

Daley appeared on The MMA Hour yesterday to further beg forgiveness, so head over to MMAFighting for the full scoop. While we’re all about second chances here at CagePotato, do you think Daley’s offense is simply unforgivable?

–J. Jones

Daniel Cormier Weight Watch: ‘DC’ Commits to Dropping to Light Heavyweight, Wants Immediate Title Shot


(Who needs a tale-of-the-tape when we have the magic of Photoshop?)

He’s gone back and forth in the past, suggested it without committing to it but now UFC heavyweight contender and former Olympic wrestler Daniel Cormier has said that he will most certainly drop down to light heavyweight. That is, after he whoops up on Roy Nelson at UFC 166.

After that, Cormier says he’ll demand an immediate title shot against the winner of Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson, which UFC President Dana White has implied he deserves. Cormier, who stays chubby all year round and had a near-death experience cutting weight as a wrestler before his second Olympic games in 2008, “is now confident he can easily make the weight cut,” according to MMA Fighting.

Also, if he beats Nelson, “Cormier said that after the fight he will publicly ask the UFC in the cage to “cut the line,” MMA Fighting reports.


(Who needs a tale-of-the-tape when we have the magic of Photoshop?)

He’s gone back and forth in the past, suggested it without committing to it but now UFC heavyweight contender and former Olympic wrestler Daniel Cormier has said that he will most certainly drop down to light heavyweight. That is, after he whoops up on Roy Nelson at UFC 166.

After that, Cormier says he’ll demand an immediate title shot against the winner of Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson, which UFC President Dana White has implied he deserves. Cormier, who stays chubby all year round and had a near-death experience cutting weight as a wrestler before his second Olympic games in 2008, “is now confident he can easily make the weight cut,” according to MMA Fighting.

Also, if he beats Nelson, “Cormier said that after the fight he will publicly ask the UFC in the cage to “cut the line,” MMA Fighting reports.

Of course, all these well-laid plans can only mean one thing — Cormier is going to get smashed by Nelson. Sad, because we were picking D.C. before all this.

If Cormier somehow manages to survive the “looking past your current opponent” curse, do you think there’s a more deserving light heavyweight out there, nation? We can’t really think of a more compelling match up with champion Jon Jones at this point. All reasonable suggestions will be considered.

– Elias Cepeda

Coincidence Much? Chael Sonnen Returning to Middleweight After “Fight Night” Bout With Shogun Rua


(Referee Yves Lavigne scrambles to clean up the pool of Vaseline he dumped on the canvas to turn Sonnen’s perfectly-timed spinning backfist into a subject of parody at UFC 148. Photo via Getty.) 

We are shocked, Potato Nation. SHOCKED WE TELLS YOU.

For reasons that are not yet understandable despite being clearly explained to us, P4P G.O.A.T., multi-division UFC champion, possessor of the arms and the charms, the hefty lefty, the flyin hawaiian, the Juggernaut, bitch, Chael Phinneus Sonnen Esq., recently announced that he will be returning to the middleweight division after he defeats Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at Fight Night: Sonnen vs. Shogun on August 17th.

It’s a goddamn travesty is what it is. As we all know, Sonnen was last “defeated” by light heavyweight “champion” Jon Jones via technical knock out (emphasis on “technical”) at UFC 159 in a fight that he would have undoubtedly won had referee Keith Peterson not been in Jones’ pocket and prematurely stopped the fight. So discouraged by the evident corruption at 205, Sonnen broke the news of his middleweight return on UFC Tonight yesterday:

I’ve moved to Southern California and am training at Reign with Mark Munoz. My new contract, which is a five-fight deal, was finalized today.

I’ll return to middleweight after beating Shogun. There are two guys I want to get matched up with: Vitor Belfort, because he’s awesome and he’s on an incredible roll. And Wanderlei Silva, who I’ve heard is going back to middleweight. The landscape has completely changed. I’ve got a new contract and I’m returning to the weight class.


(Referee Yves Lavigne scrambles to clean up the pool of Vaseline he dumped on the canvas to turn Sonnen’s perfectly-timed spinning backfist into a subject of parody at UFC 148. Photo via Getty.) 

We are shocked, Potato Nation. SHOCKED WE TELLS YOU.

For reasons that are not yet understandable despite being clearly explained to us, P4P G.O.A.T., multi-division UFC champion, possessor of the arms and the charms, the hefty lefty, the flyin hawaiian, the Juggernaut, bitch, Chael Phinneus Sonnen Esq., recently announced that he will be returning to the middleweight division after he defeats Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at Fight Night: Sonnen vs. Shogun on August 17th.

It’s a goddamn travesty is what it is. As we all know, Sonnen was last “defeated” by light heavyweight “champion” Jon Jones via technical knock out (emphasis on “technical”) at UFC 159 in a fight that he would have undoubtedly won had referee Keith Peterson not been in Jones’ pocket and prematurely stopped the fight. So discouraged by the evident corruption at 205, Sonnen broke the news of his middleweight return on UFC Tonight yesterday:

I’ve moved to Southern California and am training at Reign with Mark Munoz. My new contract, which is a five-fight deal, was finalized today.

I’ll return to middleweight after beating Shogun. There are two guys I want to get matched up with: Vitor Belfort, because he’s awesome and he’s on an incredible roll. And Wanderlei Silva, who I’ve heard is going back to middleweight. The landscape has completely changed. I’ve got a new contract and I’m returning to the weight class.

“To those of you who think I am only doing this because Anderson Silva has finally been dethroned,” Sonnen continued whilst one-arming a 90 pound dumbbell and smoking a corncob pipe, “I will remind you that I am still up 5 rounds to 2 on that chickenshit.”

In even more shocking news, Chael Sonnen apparently respects (most) Brazilians now *vomits*. First he declared that “Rua seems like a really great guy” and now he’s calling Vitor Belfort “awesome.” Marriage has truly revealed some cracks in his grizzly exterior, but REGARDLESS, who would you prefer to see “The American Gangster” take on after he finishes putting a spanking on Rua?

–J. Jones

Demian Maia Calls Steven Seagal/Anderson Silva Relationship ‘A Lie’ and ‘A Joke’


(“And then I told him, ‘I’m a martial artist.’ Haha, I know, right?” | Photo via lebeauleblog)

As ridiculous as his peripheral presence in the UFC has been, I can’t remember any pro fighter calling shenanigans on the whole “Steven Seagal has helped coach Anderson Silva” narrative that has been perpetrated on the MMA public over the past few years. That is, until today.

Former Silva foe Demian Maia recently spoke to Yahoo! Esportes and had the guts to go on record and state the obvious — that the bloated fake martial artist and movie actor Steven Seagal has absolutely nothing to teach a real fighter like Silva, and everyone knows it. “That’s a lie, is marketing,” Maia said.

“He never taught anything to Anderson…it is a joke.”


(“And then I told him, ‘I’m a martial artist.’ Haha, I know, right?” | Photo via lebeauleblog)

As ridiculous as his peripheral presence in the UFC has been, I can’t remember any pro fighter calling shenanigans on the whole “Steven Seagal has helped coach Anderson Silva” narrative that has been perpetrated on the MMA public over the past few years. That is, until today.

Former Silva foe Demian Maia recently spoke to Yahoo! Esportes and had the guts to go on record and state the obvious — that the bloated fake martial artist and movie actor Steven Seagal has absolutely nothing to teach a real fighter like Silva, and everyone knows it. “That’s a lie, is marketing,” Maia said.

“He never taught anything to Anderson…it is a joke.”

If you think Maia is just squeezing some sour grapes because of the way Anderson embarrassed him when they fought a few years ago, the Jiu Jitsu expert insists that he wasn’t rooting against Silva this last time out when he lost to Chris Weidman at UFC 162. “I was not rooting against him in this fight, honestly,” Maia said.

Shocked, potato nation? You shouldn’t be.

Seagal hasn’t fought so much as stuff his face non-stop throughout his “martial arts career,” but he has been known to rent out entire music venues for his band so he could report that he sold out a place. If you didn’t already know that Seagal was a joke from his movies, his failed tactics for Anderson at UFC 162 should have clued you in.

– Elias Cepeda