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Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier: Keys to Victory for Each Fighter

The light heavyweight title tilt we have all been waiting for is nearly here, and the most compelling 205-pound championship fight ever has us all on the edge of our seats before the two combatants even step inside the cage.
Jon Jones defends his champ…

Jon Jones defends his championship for a record eighth time when he faces No. 2-ranked contender Daniel Cormier.

Cormier is an elite wrestler who has dominated throughout his MMA career. He is 2-0 at light heavyweight after leaving the heavyweight division as one of its top contenders. Jones has been the greatest light heavyweight we have known in this young sport. Their collision is made even more enticing by the hatred they have for one another.

Here are their keys to victory in the UFC 182 main event.

Cormier‘s Keys to Victory

Close the Distance

Jones utilizes his reach better than almost anyone in the sport today, and he will have a 12″ reach advantage against Cormier. That puts the challenger at a significant disadvantage.

Cormier has dealt with this disadvantage nearly his entire career, and it has yet to be a big problem. It will be Saturday. It was not a big problem during Cormier’s bouts at heavyweight because of the nature of the individual matchups and the former Olympian’s grappling skills. He also possessed a speed advantage at heavyweight that he will not have against Jones.

The challenger has to find ways to get inside. He cannot be successful being stuck outside of range. This is his primary key to winning the fight.

Complete Takedowns

The better wrestler must get takedowns, but it is not because of how good he is in this specific area. Rather, it helps set up success later in the fight.

If Cormier is successful with his wrestling, then it makes Jones react to his shots and feints. It begins to give DC more options against Jones that he otherwise would not have. He will be able to slip in strikes as Jones reacts to defend.

If Jones can stuff the takedowns, his confidence will grow, and Cormier will not have many paths to victory.

Controlled Aggression

This is a grudge match of the highest order. They hate one another.

Cormier has to manager his anger and control his aggression. The greatest risk for making key mistakes is when a fighter cannot channel his anger accordingly. Being overaggressive leads to finishes. A cerebral fighter like Jones will take advantage.

The AKA product is a smart fighter in his own right, but he is the one that has to come forward to defeat the champion. He is the one who has to force the action. The onus is on him.

Cormier must stay within himself for however long the fight may go.

Jones’ Keys to Victory

Establish Distance

Cormier has to get inside, but Jones will want to establish his distance.

Jones does this in a variety of ways, but the two he is most effective with is the jab and front kick. His long limbs are one of the biggest reasons he is the champion today. No one uses his or her body as well as Jones.

Jones has made his natural advantages even more significant through his hard work during training. That is a credit to the tutelage of Greg Jackson and Mike Winklejohn.

Keeping DC on the outside will be Jones’ easiest path to victory Saturday, and it is also one of his easiest options.

Utilize Trips

Much like he can control the distance of the fights with his long legs, Jones also uses them expertly in fights.

Jones is not going to be able to clinch with Cormier and win the takedown battles. Cormier is just much better than him in that position, and he is the stronger fighter. Jones has to use leverage. He can be successful in tripping Cormier to the canvas.

We have not seen how Cormier reacts on the bottom, and Jones is always improving on his ground control. They both have amazing takedown defense, but Cormier‘s balance would be effected by one of Jones’ trips.

Landing even one successful takedown will take some confidence away from Cormier and open the former Olympian’s eyes to the notion that Jones can take him to the mat. It will make him begin to second guess.

Make DC Work

Cormier has went five rounds before, but that was in a fight where he controlled the action. DC tossed Josh Barnett around the cage and rode his way to the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix title.

Cormier’s cardio has never truly been tested. It is easy to manage your gas tank when you are the one in control from bell to bell. If Jones can force Cormier to work early and often, it will pay off in the championship rounds.

Jones has shown his heart and resolve in the past, and we know he can go five full rounds in a back-and-forth battle. He will need to keep a steady workrate Saturday against Cormier. If DC does begin to gas, it will be all over, and Jones will be able to do just about whatever he wants.

This is a fantastic fight that can go a number of ways. It will be about who executes his game plan, and who can make the necessary adjustments. Remember these keys to victory when the two elite fighters square off in Vegas and see who comes away holding 12 pounds of gold.

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UFC 182 Fight Card: Latest Odds and Projected Winner for Top Fights

UFC 182 is a card littered with evenly matched bouts. There’s a squash match tucked in the docket here and there, but for the most part, fans are going to be treated to some close matchups.
That’s assuming the odds truly tell the story. Looking a…

UFC 182 is a card littered with evenly matched bouts. There’s a squash match tucked in the docket here and there, but for the most part, fans are going to be treated to some close matchups.

That’s assuming the odds truly tell the story. Looking at the 11 bouts slated for January 3 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, only three favorites have odds greater than -250, per Odds Shark.

Of course, the close odds mean forecasting these bouts is especially challenging. This card should be equal parts exciting and unpredictable. Here’s a look at the latest odds and with predictions for every bout:

Under-the-Radar Pick: Cody Garbrandt (+170)

If you’re looking for an underdog to back Saturday, UFC newcomer Cody Garbrandt is a strong candidate. The 23-year-old doesn’t have as many high-profile bouts as Marcus Brimage, but he does have the tools to spring the minor upset.

Training with Team Alpha Male, there are a lot of things to like about the rising prospect. His ground game is developing. He was recruited by Michigan State to wrestle coming out of high school, per MMAjunkie. But his strengths lie in his boxing.

No Love has accrued all five of his wins by knockout since turning pro.

But even more impressive than the heavy-handedness that Garbrandt brings to the Octagon is his approach in the stand-up department. Where you’ll see most prospects with knockout power swinging for the fences and overwhelming lower competition, Garbrandt shows a real knack for setting up his assault.

Even though all but one of his five wins have come in the first round, Garbrandt has shown the patience to know when to pounce on an opponent. That kind of awareness should come in handy when making his first appearance on the grandest stage of them all.

Brimage is a game opponent. The 29-year-old will be in the Octagon for the seventh time and is coming off a knockout win against Jumabieke Tuerxun. But in a fight that is likely to turn into a kickboxing match, it’s not a bad move to go with the fighter who has done nothing but rack up knockouts on his way to the big show.

Co-Main Event Prediction: Donald Cerrone (-190)

Outside of the main event, no fight on the UFC 182 card has as much impact on its division’s title picture as the co-main bout between Donald Cerrone and Myles Jury.

Cerrone and Jury are both on winning streaks. Cerrone‘s was extended to five with his last win against Eddie Alvarez. Jury’s whole career has been a winning streak. He enters the bout with a perfect 15-0 record.

Here’s a look at how the two match up statistically (via FightMetric).

Looking at the statistics, a few things pop out. First, Jury’s strike defense is outstanding. A survey of some of the top fighters in the sport reveals that the ability to avoid getting hit is paramount to succeeding at the highest level.

However, unlike those who dominate the sport, Jury isn’t as efficient as the opponents he’s adept at avoiding. He lands just 37 percent of his strikes.

This hasn’t hurt him yet. He’s still managed to win seven of his bouts by knockout. But Cerrone isn’t Takanori Gomi. He’s one of the best kickboxers in the division.

The other notable Jury stat is his ability to get opponents to the ground. His 3.18 takedowns per 15 minutes is a testament to his wrestling ability. But that might not be the best route to go against Cowboy. He’s earned 15 of his 25 career wins via submission.

Jury is still bound to do some big things in his career. It would just appear that Cerrone currently has the edge wherever the fight may go.

Main Event Prediction: Jon Jones (-170)

The fact that the line is so close is a testament to how highly anticipated this bout is. According to numbers compiled by BestFightOdds, this is the closest line for a Jon Jones fight since the dynamo became champion against Shogun Rua.

That’s because much like Liam Neeson in Taken, Daniel Cormier has a particular set of skills, ones that, on paper, could stretch the champion farther than any challenger who has come before him. Cormier pairs an Olympic-caliber wrestling background with quick hands and relentless aggression.

It’s all enough to make this an intriguing bout, but it might not be enough to get his hand raised.

That’s ultimately because when Jones raises his hand, it nearly touches the ceiling. For everything that Cormier can do inside the Octagon, magically growing longer limbs to take away Jones’ natural reach advantage is not one of them.

DC should be able to close the distance at times. It will all come down to timing and footwork, but it can be done. However, the question is whether he can do it consistently enough to get inside and cause enough damage to win the fight.

The answer could be yes, but it’s more likely that Jones will once again demonstrate the creative striking that makes him so difficult to dethrone. A Cormier win would not be all together shocking, but it still feels like a five-round decision for the champion is the most likely scenario here.

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Jones vs. Cormier: Latest Predictions Before Anticipated UFC 182 Main Event

When UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones squares off against Daniel Cormier on Saturday in the main event of UFC 182, mixed martial arts fans will witness the culmination of months of trash talking.
There are few megafights anymore due to the over…

There are few megafights anymore due to the oversaturation of the UFC product, but hardcore and casual MMA fans alike can get behind the battle between Jones and Cormier. After several pre-fight verbal arguments and a physical confrontation at a press conference, fight fans are ready to see the action in the Octagon.

Here is the full UFC 182 fight card, predictions for each bout and what gives challenger Daniel Cormier the edge in this matchup.

Daniel Cormier’s Biggest Edge

While there is no discounting the wrestling ability of Jon Jones, the advantage Cormier has over the champion is his elite ability on the mat.

From the very beginning of his wrestling career, Cormier was a man to be feared. With three state championships, two National Junior College Athletic Association Championships and a second-place finish at nationals while at Oklahoma State University in 2001, he is one of the most decorated wrestlers in the UFC.

Add in the fact that Cormier joined the Team USA freestyle wrestling team and was on the 2004 and 2008 Olympic teams, and there is no doubt that he is one of the most gifted mat technicians in the sport today.

Jon Anik of Fox Sports 1 revealed Jones’ thoughts on Cormier’s perceived wrestling advantage:

The trash talking has heated up overall, as Jones told Fox Sports 1’s America’s Pregame (h/t MMAJunkie.com) that he’d be ready to fight at the weigh-ins if necessary. Cormier immediately responded to those comments:

I think you have to (keep your emotions in check). What’s the point of fighting on Friday when we’ve got to wait 24 hours to fight on Saturday? Right now, it’s about staying the course and being professional. It will be good to see him in that state.

As Jon says, we take it how it goes. It’s a matter of, “How are we going to do this?” I would prefer to wait until Saturday, but if we had to fight on Friday, it would be OK, I guess.

While Cormier has the edge, Jones is no slouch. Not only did he also win a high school state championship, but he also was able to win a NJCAA Championship in 2006, just as Cormier did.

Jones may not have the extensive college and Olympic wrestling training that Cormier does, but the champion does have more Brazilian jiu-jitsu training and a serious advantage in experience inside the UFC Octagon.

With Cormier’s move from heavyweight to light heavyweight, he has a serious amount of power in his punches and is the kind of challenger who would give Jones trouble. It will be a great main event and fans should be ready to see a new champion crowned.

Predicted Winner: Cormier via fourth-round technical knockout.

Stats via UFC.com.

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Jon Jones: Why Daniel Cormier Represents Bones’ Biggest Challenge

Like many MMA fans, I’d love to see Jon Jones fight Alexander Gustafsson again, but the bout with Daniel Cormier Saturday in Las Vegas at UFC 182 is Bones’ defining fight. We may never see a more genuinely hate-charged buildup for a bout.
I’ve seen ple…

I’ve seen plenty of fights in boxing and MMA where the hype was about as real as a unicorn. Call me gullible, but I’m a believer in the bad blood between Bones and DC. Apparently, I’m not alone—Bleacher Report’s Jeremy Botter and Jonathan Snowden are apparently all in as well.

The atmosphere the two fighter’s volatile relationship has set up is great for the sport, but it adds a potentially harmful element for Jones. Can he fight mad?

Stakes Are High

Obviously, Jones is defending his title, but the stakes are higher than the belt. Jones already owns the record for most title defenses of the light heavyweight crown. He’s just three wins short of tying Anderson Silva’s overall mark.

If he wins Saturday, it might be a while before another legitimate threat arises. If Gustafsson gets past Anthony “Rumble” Johnson later this month, then a rematch with him seems like the next fight. With a second look, it seems as if Jones could make a rematch with Gustafsson look a little easier than the first bout.

Bones could be on his way to becoming the greatest fighter of all time.

Aside from records and titles, Jones’ pride is on the line. He and Cormier can’t stand each other, and that obviously brings about a tension. Jones put it best in this interview with UFC.com’s Matt Parrino when he said, “no one wants to lose to someone you don’t like.”

Because of that dynamic, Jones will be under even more pressure than usual.

Cormier‘s Wrestling

Jones has faced guys like Chael Sonnen and Rashad Evans. Both are tremendous wrestlers, yet neither of them are on Cormier‘s level in that regard.

When it comes to technique and brute strength, you would be hard-pressed to find any fighter—regardless of weight class—with a better wrestling base than Cormier.

He knows who he is, and he’ll bring that into the Octagon as his ace in the hole. Jones has shown the tendency to try and beat opponents at their own game. If he does that against Cormier, he’ll be playing in the lion’s den.

Cormier‘s Fighting I.Q.

Usually, Jones is the smartest man in the cage. That might not be the case when he faces Cormier. DC is a thinking man’s fighter, and he’s able to process information and incorporate it quickly in a fight.

Cormier has been so dominant that he hasn’t had to adapt much in the cage, but his game plans have been impeccable against the likes of Roy Nelson, Dan Henderson and others. Cormier used movement and kicks to keep Nelson off balance before going in for the kill.

Against Henderson, Cormier‘s takedown techniques and speed advantage made the future Hall of Famer and Greco-Roman wrestler look like an amateur.

Finding a way to beat Jones will be Cormier‘s biggest assignment, but the same can also be said for Jones. The winner of this bout be determined by the fighter who wins the chess match and not just the scrap.

Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter. I dig boxing and MMA.

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UFC 182 Bold Predictions: Will Daniel Cormier Slay the Unbeatable Jon Jones?

This is the one we’ve all been waiting for.
After one change in opponent and a bevy of knee surgeries, light heavyweight champion Jon Jones will finally defend his title against Daniel Cormier on Saturday at UFC 182.
Are we stoked? Dude, we’re mor…

This is the one we’ve all been waiting for.

After one change in opponent and a bevy of knee surgeries, light heavyweight champion Jon Jones will finally defend his title against Daniel Cormier on Saturday at UFC 182.

Are we stoked? Dude, we’re more than stoked. What comes after stoked?

If Jones-Cormier even halfway-kinda lives up to the hype, we might see Fight of the Year honors wrapped up during the very first event of 2015. The rest of the card ain’t too shabby, either.

As is always the case in situations as emotionally charged as this one, bold men are required. You’ve got Jones, the seemingly unbeatable 205-pound king. You’ve got Cormier, the undefeated challenger.

And then you’ve got Bleacher Report Lead Writers Chad Dundas (that’s me) and Jonathan Snowden, who are here to give you a sneak preview of how it’s all going to go down.

Read on, if you dare…

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Sorry Haters: UFC Champion Jon Jones Is the Greatest Fighter of All Time

Controversy, as always, is swirling around Jon Jones (20-1). On Thursday, it was a hallway war of words. What it will be tomorrow, no one can say.
The UFC light heavyweight champion has managed to stuff a career’s worth of drama into just a f…

Controversy, as always, is swirling around Jon Jones (20-1). On Thursday, it was a hallway war of words. What it will be tomorrow, no one can say.

The UFC light heavyweight champion has managed to stuff a career’s worth of drama into just a few short months in the lead up to his fight Saturday with two-time Olympian Daniel Cormier, a fight that will, finally, bring one of MMA‘s greatest feuds to a close.

The bad blood started years ago with Jones’ offhand claim he could take Cormier to the mat. Cormier, a proud wrestling legend, was not amused. That was the beginning. But the two were separated, at the time, by a weight class and by promotional boundaries. Nothing came of it except simmering anger.

It began in earnest last August with a scuffle at a pre-fight media appearance, a dustup that included a tumble off the hastily constructed stage, a terrified UFC PR flack and even a thrown shoe.

That was just the beginning, the first step in a journey that would peak with Jones asking Cormier, “Hey p—y, are you still there?” between breaks (note: language in video NSFW) during a SportsCenter appearance when the two men thought the cameras had stopped running.

For Cormier, one of MMA’s true nice guys, it’s been an out-of-character foray into the world of trash talk and burning, uncontrollable anger. For Jones, a master of mind games, it’s just another fight, just another blood feud in a career full of them.

All this theater and the subsequent conversations in the MMA world about whether or not Jones is “fake” or a “hypocrite” simply distract from the question we should be asking each time he fights: Are we watching the best of all time compete in the cage?

The answer, resoundingly, is yes.

When you see Jones in the cage, you’re looking at the culmination of a 21-year journey that started with Ken Shamrock vs. Royce Gracie at UFC 1 in 1993. Back then, a fighter like Gracie could excel with a single skill set, in his case the superlative Brazilian jiu jitsu his family helped spread to the world.

Four years later, when Frank Shamrock was the face of the UFC, things had evolved significantly. The top fighters had a working knowledge of several arts and excelled in at least two diverse areas. It was still recognizable as the sport Gracie built, but bouts between first-generation fighters and their successors (like Kazushi Sakuraba and Matt Hughes) showed the modern athlete was on a different level.

Ten years ago, when the UFC first burst onto the scene on Spike TV, Chuck Liddell became the UFC’s lead attraction with a potent combination of takedown defense and knockout power. Game plans were rudimentary. Two men met, one fell down, everyone went out to the bar.

Jones, and his predecessors like Georges St-Pierre, have helped the sport evolve yet again. It’s not enough anymore to be good in two areas. The top stars and champions must be able to compete successfully at kicking distance, in punching range, in the clinch and on the mat. There is no room for weakness—and Jones doesn’t have a significant one.

Jones, of course, is far from perfect. No fighter is. He was pushed to the limit by Alexander Gustafsson in 2013, forced to reach into his soul for the heart and courage to overcome the Swede’s precision punching and persistent leg kicks and lateral movement.

While many point to his struggles in that fight as a sign of weakness, I see it differently.

Fighting is one of the few sports where an athlete is exposed to the world, his strengths and weaknesses obvious to all. There’s a naked honesty to cage fighting, an ability to cut right to the chase, to see what a man is made of in a way few other pursuits can.

Jon Jones passed that test against Gustafsson. Cormier is a formidable opponent. His wrestling and rare athleticism will allow him to challenge Jones the way few have. When he does, however, we know Jones won’t break easily. He’s been cast in the fire already—and emerged a stronger fighter.

When you discuss the greatest of all time, many things come into play. At 27, Jones doesn’t yet have the weight of historical accomplishments to measure up to other legends like St-Pierre, Fedor Emelianenko or Anderson Silva. That will come with time.

In the moment, however, as he walks into the cage at UFC 182, Jones is the best fighter MMA has ever produced. In a sport that only reached legal drinking age last November, it’s silly to think that will always be true. But, right now, his combination of skills, physical tools and mental toughness make him the ultimate fighter in the ultimate sport.

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