Anthony Johnson is set to return to the Octagon in early to mid-2020 and all signs point to him fighting at heavyweight. Yet, he says he is open to moving back down to light heavyweight to fight Jon Jones. “I’m gonna wait until I get about, lose about 10 more pounds, get to 235lbs. I […]
“I’m gonna wait until I get about, lose about 10 more pounds, get to 235lbs. I wanna see how my body feels. Then if it feels good, then I’m going to probably make 205lbs,” Johnson told Brendan Schaub of a fight with Jon Jones.
“We’ll make it happen if I get low enough. I’ll get to 205lbs. That’s a fight I wanted. I think Jon wanted that fight, too, before everything happened. That situation, which, it’s over with, it’s in the past,” he added.
“When we see each other there’s no animosity, we show each other love. But that was a fight, that’s why I went up to 205lbs man. That’s the guy I want. And then you know, when I get my heartbroken, I have to fight Daniel Cormier, it’s not as motivating. The fight wasn’t in me to fight DC, but I fought him, kind of fought him, but it wasn’t the same drive.”
Jon Jones then saw those comments, and to no surprise, he took to Twitter to respond. There, he says he is happy to choke him out.
You better make sure you have that cardio together big fella @Anthony_Rumble
“We’ve always been cool but I’ll be more than happy to choke you out of that’s what you’re looking for. @Anthony_Rumble,” Jon Jones added.
Jon Jones vs. Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson would no doubt be one of the biggest fights the UFC could put on in 2020. Whether or not he can cut down to 205-pounds to fight ‘Bones’ is another question. But, if he does, Jon Jones is certain he will choke him.
Who do you think would win a fight between Jon Jones vs. Anthony Johnson?
The long-awaited Daniel Cormier vs. Jones rematch is reportedly finally set once again, and this time it’s scheduled for late in the summer. According to a report from BJ PENN.com’s Chris Taylor, multiple sources have confirmed that Cormier will rematch Jones at July 29’s UFC 214 from Anaheim, California. The rumored return of Cris Cyborg
The long-awaited Daniel Cormier vs. Jones rematch is reportedly finally set once again, and this time it’s scheduled for late in the summer.
According to a report from BJ PENN.com’s Chris Taylor, multiple sources have confirmed that Cormier will rematch Jones at July 29’s UFC 214 from Anaheim, California. The rumored return of Cris Cyborg is also still slated to take place on the card, with the dominant female star allegedly fighting for an interim or vacate featherweight belt with her opponent “still in the works”:
I have confirmed with sources close to the fight that Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier 2 is official and will headline #UFC214 on July 29!
Cormier and Jones’ highly-publicized beef goes back nearly three full years to their now-historic presser brawl before their original scheduled rematch at 2014’s UFC 178 from Las Vegas. That fight would go on to fall apart due to a Jones injury, but the two would eventually settle their score – or so we thought – when Jones finally outlasted Cormier with a five-round unanimous decision win over Cormier in the main event of 2015’s UFC 182, the only loss of Cormier’s illustrious career.
Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea for USA TODAY Sports
“Bones” was set to move on to the next challenge of his own legendary MMA career when he matched up with Anthony “Rumble” Johnson at May 2015’s UFC 187, but when Jones was forced out of the fight after a bizarre and shocking hit-and-run accident where he left a 25-year-old pregnant girl with a broken arm, the all-time great was stripped of his belt and Cormier was granted na opportunity few ever get after losing a title fight in their previous bout.
He capitalized majorly, submitted Johnson in the third round of their main event bout after getting rocked by a missile of a right hand in the first round, opening up the path for his title reign that has been filled with ups and downs. He defended the belt against Alexander Gustafsson in a classic battle at UFC 192, and was set to rematch Jones at April 2016’s UFC 197 before a leg injury forced him out. Jones ultimately fought and beat Ovince Saint Preux at UFC 197 in a one-sided replacement fight for the interim title.
The rematch was scheduled yet again for last July’s massive UFC 200, but once again Jones made a boneheaded mistake that put his fighting future in jeopardy when he failed pre-fight drug tests for banned estrogen blockers. Cormier fought and beat replacement Anderson Silva in an uninspired, safe decision before defending the belt for a second time with another rear-naked choke win over Johnson at April 8’s UFC 210, a bout after which ‘Rumble’ announced his retirement from the fight game.
UFC President Dana White has stated that Jones will not return to a main event because of the trust issues his track record of the past few years have understandably fostered, so it would seem like the company will have to get an absolutely huge match-up to feature over Cormier vs. Jones, one of the most anticipated – and rescheduled – rematches in UFC history.
Cyborg fighting Megan Anderson may fit that bill, but it’s safe to say that most eyes will be on the potential return of ‘Bones’ and whether or not he can defeat the more by-the-book champion that most fans seem to hate for one reason or another.
Either way, UFC 214 is looking like it will be stacked.
Jimi Manuwa has been campaigning hard for a light heavyweight title shot against Daniel Cormier, but now he’s taken things to a new level. Speaking during a recent interview with ESPN’s ‘Five Rounds’ podcast (via MMA Junkie), the English knockout artist revealed his displeasure at Jon Jones reportedly leaping the queue at 205 pounds and
Jimi Manuwa has been campaigning hard for a light heavyweight title shot against Daniel Cormier, but now he’s taken things to a new level.
Speaking during a recent interview with ESPN’s ‘Five Rounds’ podcast (via MMA Junkie), the English knockout artist revealed his displeasure at Jon Jones reportedly leaping the queue at 205 pounds and getting a rematch with Cormier at July 29’s UFC 214 from Anaheim. According to “The Poster Boy,” even the dominant Jones needs a tune-up after so much uncertainty and time away from the octagon:
“I didn’t want (Jones) to kind of jump the line,” Manuwa said. “I’ve been working hard, knocking people out. I believe I deserve the title shot. He’s the greatest of all time, but he’s been off for a year or two years. I think he needs a warm-up fight, and I think he knows he needs a warm-up fight.”
Manuwa fully acknowledged Jones’ greatness, but also noted that his recent two-fight streak of incredible knockouts is more impressive than Jones’ recent track record after not finishing a fight since April 2013. Due to how he finishes his wins inside the cage, Manuwa gave himself some incredibly high praise:
“You can’t really argue with Jon Jones,” Manuwa said “He’s the best of all time in all weight divisions — maybe him and (Demetrious Johnson) after (UFC on FOX 24) performance. But I don’t know. I just feel I’ve finished all my fights in spectacular fashion. I don’t go to decision. I’m like the Mike Tyson of the division now. I think all these people know that I’m a (tough) fight for anyone.”
Indeed he is a tough fight for anyone, but it’s still a difficult comparison considering he’s been finished by two of the top five contenders at 205 pounds. Still, ‘The Poster Boy’ will be on high alert should anything go wrong with Jones – and that’s tended to be the case as of late – so he can capitalize on the beef he created by appearing cageside at Cormier’s UFC 210 win over Anthony “Rumble” Johnson.
The grueling, grinding champ has called Manuwa “easy work” while he’s dubbed himself the “Kid Dynamite” of the UFC light heavyweight division. Which one is it?
It looks like Dana Whit is sticking to his guns regarding not giving Jon Jones a headlining spot in his return – at least for now. The outspoken UFC executive appeared on ‘Sportscenter’ earlier this week to tease “Bones’” potential return against longtime rival Daniel Cormier at July 29’s UFC 214 from Anaheim, California, but
It looks like Dana Whit is sticking to his guns regarding not giving Jon Jones a headlining spot in his return – at least for now.
The outspoken UFC executive appeared on ‘Sportscenter’ earlier this week to tease “Bones’” potential return against longtime rival Daniel Cormier at July 29’s UFC 214 from Anaheim, California, but during an appearance on today’s ‘The Herd’ (via FOX Sports), White reaffirmed his earlier words that Jones would no longer headline after so many big missed opportunities:
“That’s a huge problem right now and that’s why I said he won’t headline a card. It will be a co-main event.
“He will not be the main event…until he builds back the trust of the consumers and me.”
Jones may be a top-level pay-per-view (PPV) performer a tier below Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey, but it’s understandable why White has a heavy amount of skepticism that Jones will be able to make it to the fight without incident, as he’s seen two headlining spots against Anthony “Rumble” Johnson and Daniel Cormier fell apart when he was arrested for a hit-and-run accident before UFC 187 and failed a USADA drug test before UFC 200, respectively.
However, Jones has still kept his top billing spot in terms of light heavyweight rank, and it’s easy to see why in a barren 205-pound division outside of he and Cormier and perhaps a few others. Cris Cyborg tweeted yesterday she would be finally be fighting Germaine de Randamie for the UFC women’s featherweight title in her adopted U.S. home of Anaheim, leaving the potential for a huge late-July card to follow the traditional International Fight Week earlier in the month.
But we all know what the true main event would be.
Can Jones finally make it to his awaited rematch against Cormier?
Troubled yet peerless former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is eligible to return from his USADA suspension in July, so not surprisingly, the UFC is looking to book the big-ticket “Bones” as soon as they can. Losing only to a DQ in his illustrious career but also seeing countless high-profile main events fall by
Troubled yet peerless former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is eligible to return from his USADA suspension in July, so not surprisingly, the UFC is looking to book the big-ticket “Bones” as soon as they can.
Losing only to a DQ in his illustrious career but also seeing countless high-profile main events fall by the wayside for legal troubles with drugs, alcohol, and performance-enhancing drugs, Jones has only fought once since his decision victory over current champion Daniel Cormier in January 2015, a sluggish decision over late replacement Ovince St. Preux in April 2016 after Cormier pulled out of their original rematch.
It was Jones who was the cause of the re-scheduled bout falling apart, however, as he tested positive for two banned estrogen blockers in the days leading up to the two rivals’ second bout at July 2016’s UFC 200.
But if “Bones” wants an immediate rematch with his longtime rival, apparently he’s got it.
UFC President Dana White appeared on ‘Sportscenter’ alongside ESPN’s Brett Okamoto to propose a Cormier vs. Jones rematch on July 29’s UFC 214 from Anaheim, even though he had previously insisted he could no longer trust Jones to main event a major show:
“Cormier is available to fight on July 8, but that timeframe doesn’t work for Jon Jones,” White said. “Cormier already told me he’s willing to fight either Jones or Manuwa.
“If Jon Jones is ready to fight [by UFC 214] on July 29, we’ll see the Jones versus Cormier rematch, finally.”
Cormier fired up an ongoing Twitter beef with No. 4-ranked knockout slugger Jimi Manuwa earlier today, agreeing to fight him on social media and calling him light work. White had also previously suggested a tune-up fight may not be the worst idea for Jones, and “The Poster Boy” is chomping at the bit after Cormier allegedly disrespected him at UF 210:
“Jimi wants Cormier,” White said. “They got into it at UFC 210 [earlier this month] and Jimi told me he’s never been talked to like that before. We’ll see how this plays out.”
So it looks like Cormier could meet Manuwa if Jones does want a fight before fighting “DC,” but it’s hard to imagine either of the three sides wanting to pass up on arguably the second-most lucrative rivalry in the UFC right now.
It’s also difficult to envision just what card would headline UFC 214 if Cormier vs. Jones wont especially with the traditional International Fight Week pay-per-view (PPV) card only three weeks earlier.
And then there’s always the issue of Jones making it to the fight without incident, as well.
Dana White may not trust potentially returning former champion Jon Jones to headline a major event in his first fight back, but apparently that’s just fine with “Bones’” prospective opponent and longtime rival Daniel Cormier. Just over one week after his second submission victory over top contender Anthony Johnson in the main event of April 8’s
Dana White may not trust potentially returning former champion Jon Jones to headline a major event in his first fight back, but apparently that’s just fine with “Bones’” prospective opponent and longtime rival Daniel Cormier.
Just over one week after his second submission victory over top contender Anthony Johnson in the main event of April 8’s UFC 210, Cormier told TMZ Sports that he wants to rematch “Bones” in the co-main event of the long-rumored Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. boxing super fight due to the guaranteed chance at life-changing money involved:
“Do you realize that any human being that gets part of the pay-per-view would definitely want to be a part of that?” said Cormier. “That’s life-changing money that you will never see in your life if you’re on a card with Mayweather and McGregor, me and Jon Jones being able to do ridiculous numbers, we’d get paid.”
It definitely would be a once-in-a-lifetime event if Cormier and Jones could have their anticipated rematch right before McGregor and Mayweather face off in arguably the biggest combat sports event ever staged, but it’s also no guarantee that Jones will even fight Cormier in his return bout.
The troubled former champion is eligible to return from a one-year USADA suspension in July and he just recently got off of probation for the hit-and-run accident that left a pregnant woman injured and put his fight career on hold in the most disturbing way mere months after he topped Cormier by unanimous decision in their first meeting.
Cormier may fight surging knockout slugger Jimi Manuwa before then, but if he’s truly focused on making the biggest payday like his idea above surely suggests, then he’d be wise to sit and wait to see how the strangle and unpredictable “Bones” saga plays out.
It’s just no surprise that Cormier – and Jones’ employers at the UFC – won’t be surprised if somehow it does not end up a reality.
