UFC heavyweight Daniel Cormier on Wednesday addressed his verbal feud with Jon Jones one more time. If Cormier is to be believed, it will also be the last, at least until after his fight with Roy Nelson at UFC 166.
“This will be the last time I talk ab…
UFC heavyweight Daniel Cormier on Wednesday addressed his verbal feud with Jon Jones one more time. If Cormier is to be believed, it will also be the last, at least until after his fight with Roy Nelson at UFC 166.
“This will be the last time I talk about Jon Jones,” Cormier said Monday on The MMA Hour broadcast with host Ariel Helwani. “As I move into my training camp, I’m only going to talk about Roy Nelson, because he’s a tough guy, he deserves respect, and he’s an adult, not a kid.
The light heavyweight champion has taken some personal shots recently at Cormier, a two-time Olympic wrestler. In an interview with GracieMag, Jones questioned Cormier‘s physique and work ethic, asserting Cormier is a guy “who wants to be famous.”
On Monday, Cormier expressed bafflement over the vitriol, though he did take a few parting shots at Jones before saying he was ready to move on.
“He’s a different type of guy,” Cormier said. “That’s all I’m going to say about it. When you start coming in contact with him, he actually becomes a little more difficult to deal with.”
Cormier fights at a heavier division than Jones, but Cormier said Monday he will “definitely” fight at light heavyweight after his bout with Nelson. There has also been speculation that Jones will eventually try his hand in the heavyweight division.
Cormier said a collision between him and Jones was inevitable.
“Do you want to fight me or do you not want to fight me? That’s the question,” Cormier said. “The truth is, we’re going to fight at some point, and all of these things are going to be answered.”
The 34-year-old Cormier (12-0) is 1-0 in the Octagon after moving to the UFC in early 2013 following the folding of Strikeforce, his previous home promotion. While in Strikeforce, Cormier went 4-0 and won the heavyweight grand prix in 2012.
Also on Monday, Cormier called Nelson “the toughest opponent I have ever faced in my career.” Nelson also has a verbal history with Cormier, indicating Cormier was an “Uncle Tom” in an earlier interview. Cormier brushed off the comment on Monday.
“In a general sense, I mean, it’s a little disappointing, but it wasn’t that big a deal,” Cormier said. “It fuels the fire.”
(“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.
“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?
Since the announcement that Daniel Cormier would take on Roy Nelson will take place at UFC 166 on October 19 in Houston, some fans have suggested that the fight makes no sense.
However, upon closer examination, the bout makes perfect sense given the li…
Since the announcement that Daniel Cormier would take on Roy Nelson will take place at UFC 166 on October 19 in Houston, some fans have suggested that the fight makes no sense.
However, upon closer examination, the bout makes perfect sense given the list of parties and variables it affects.
Nelson has never had the strongest relationship with Dana White. The two have bickered and prodded each other since Big Country entered the UFC. From contract disputes to Nelson’s general weight and conditioning, each side has made it clear that the attitude of the opposing side is not appreciated.
Nelson was on perpetually thin ice with the UFC throughout his career, and the loss to StipeMiocic at UFC 161 had many wondering if he’d make a return to the organization, or if the two sides could come to an agreement on his contract at all.
Enter former Olympic wrestler and Strikeforce Grand Prix champion Daniel Cormier.
The two fighters had first been rumored by White to lock horns following Nelson’s win over Cheick Kongo at UFC 159. The bout was put off when Nelson took the fight with Miocic on short notice.
Nelson claimed that he would have fought Cormier, but the wrestler was medically unfit to fight. In an interview with MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani in June, Nelson called Cormier an “Uncle Tom” for wanting to beat him for Dana White.
Not surprisingly, Cormier took offense to the terms used by the Ultimate Fighter Season 10 winner and told him to sign the papers for October 19 so they could have it out once and for all.
“Roy and I still have some unfinished business,” Cormier told Helwani in July. “I hope he re-signs with the UFC, so we can settle what he started two months ago.”
The bout has since been made official and fans should be excited. The bout comes at a perfect time for each fighter and the organization itself, not to mention for the fans.
Cormier‘s Position in the Division
Cormier is undefeated at heavyweight and, quite honestly, could make a case for being the top contender in the division. The problem? His training partner, Cain Velasquez, holds the belt.
At a media luncheon in October, Velasquez claimed that Cormierwould like to move down to the 205-pound division rather than stay at heavyweight, but that drop has proven problematic for him during his wrestling career.
Because of that concern, a steady and slower drop is necessary. Another bout at heavyweight gives him a solid paycheck while he continues to drop weight in a healthy and proper manner.
Nelson Fights Are Still Marketable
Despite what White or the Fertitta brothers think of Nelson’s attitude, the man is still marketable. He is not on the level of a Georges St-Pierre or Anderson Silva, but Nelson’s trademark beard and belly rub are known by even the casuals.
They may only know him as “that fat guy with the beard,” but they know him and will tune in to watch his bouts.
Cormier‘s last bout with Frank Mir was not a memorable one. He still can’t be said to have casual-fan appeal. A solid showing against Nelson can bolster his own name.
Nelson, on the other hand, has a chance to defeat a man almost destined for a future title shot at two weight classes.
Dos Santos Variable
The heavyweight title bout between Junior dos Santos and Velasquez headlines UFC 166.
Cormier vs. Nelson could possibly become a top-contender bout for Cormier, should Dos Santos win the belt back from Velasquez.
If the champion loses, Cormier would be free to fight for the title.
The undefeated Cormier would have no obligation to allow his teammate to take a fourth bout with Dos Santos before he himself had a shot.
Within the hypothetical of Dos Santos winning, Cormier winning suddenly puts him right behind Fabricio Werdum for a title shot. At minimum, it keeps him in the heavyweight division for a top-contender fight with Miocic.
Nelson winning doesn’t guarantee him a shot, but with so few contenders at heavyweight, it places him right back in the running. He would be 5-2 in his last seven bouts. His two losses are decisions, one on short notice and the other to Werdum.
Despite how some may feel about Nelson, he is not far off from an earned title shot.
Everybody Loves a Feud
UFC fans are often shown fake feuds and tough guys trying to act angry when they are actually mindful and respectful of their opponent behind closed doors.
But when there is a real feud and two men appear to really dislike one another, fans tune in to watch the car crash. When it’s heavyweights, that just adds to the excitement.
Call it barbaric or primitive, but there is something undeniably entertaining about two men who are interested in shutting their opponent’s mouth. Since both Cormier and Nelson like to run their mouths, the fire will be stoked all the way up to the bout itself.
Both are brash and tend to prod opponents before they step into the cage. Both also know how to back up their talk.
Conclusion
All told, the fight makes perfect sense for both fighters, the organization and fans. A sophomore UFC bout for Cormier and a turnaround feud for Nelson following a rough short-notice loss actually create a perfect matchup.
The bad blood between the two only sweetens the pot and makes for a fantastic heavyweight matchup at just the right time.
It looks like UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones isn’t even a little intrigued about a possible showdown with Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix winner Daniel Cormier.
When MMA Junkie asked the champ what he thought about “DC’s” plans to dr…
It looks like UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones isn’t even a little intrigued about a possible showdown with Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix winner Daniel Cormier.
When MMA Junkie asked the champ what he thought about “DC’s” plans to drop down to 205 pounds and call for a title shot if he beats Roy Nelson at UFC 166 this fall, Jones went off on the undefeated prospect.
DC is a guy who really wants to be famous. I don’t think he wants to work hard. I think he just wants to be famous. You can see it in his physique; you can see it in his card… He’s trying to get his Twitter followers up, that’s about it… I hate answering questions about him. He’s just not relevant to me. 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… 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.
Cormier made his Octagon debut at UFC on FOX 7 in April, winning a clear-cut, albeit heavily criticized, unanimous decision victory over former UFC heavyweight titleholder Frank Mir.
With the win, the former Olympic-level wrestler improved his professional mixed martial arts record to a perfect 12-0.
Furthermore, according to the UFC’s official rankings, Cormier is the No. 2 heavyweight fighter in the world, behind only upcoming title challenger Junior dos Santos and current champion Cain Velasquez, a friend and teammate of Cormier.
Velasquez and Cormier have stated on various occasions that they would never fight each other, which is why the Strikeforce import has been entertaining a light heavyweight title run since early this year.
UFC President Dana White has been non-committal about a potential Jones-Cormier title fight, recently telling Ariel Helwani that he wants to wait and see the outcomes of Cormier vs. Nelson and Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson, the headlining bout of UFC 165 this September (via MMA Fighting).
As it looks now, Jones has no interest in a potential showdown with Cormier anytime soon. Would this still be a matchup the fans are interested in seeing?
JohnHeinis is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA Editor for eDraft.com.
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?)
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.
UFC heavyweight Daniel Cormier on Wednesday addressed his verbal feud with Jon Jones one more time. If Cormier is to be believed, it will also be the last, at least until after his fight with Roy Nelson at UFC 166.
