Anthony Johnson Says Daniel Cormier is a ‘Tougher Fight’ for Him Than Jon Jones

Top-ranked light heavyweight contender Anthony Johnson (19-4) was supposed to fight Jon Jones (21-1) in the UFC 187 main event on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. But after Jones was arrested for his alleged involved in a hit-and-run accident on April 27 that left a pregnant motorist injured, Jones was stripped of the title and indefinitely suspended by the fight promotion.

Third-ranked Daniel Cormier (15-1) was named as Jones’ replacement.  His only career loss is to Jones by decision at UFC 182 in his last outing in January.  Johnson has mixed feelings about fighting for the vacant title and would have rather faced Jones on Saturday.

“Jon, in my eyes, is still the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world and in our weight class. Everybody wants to be able to say, ‘I competed against the best and I fought the champ.’ That’s the part that’s disappointing because he’s not around right now,” said Johnson during a recent media conference call.

While Johnson would have rather dethroned Jones instead of fighting for a vacated title, he believes Cormier is a more difficult match-up for him than Jones would have been.

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“The part that’s not disappointing is that I get to fight another elite athlete, a guy who in my opinion is actually a tougher fight for me than Jon Jones because we got… we see the grinder; you know what I’m saying? He brings it, and this is a second chance (for him to win the title), so I know he’s going to bring it even more. So this is, I think is a good thing for everybody at the end of the day because you have two guys that are hungry to get the belt. That’s what it’s about,” said the 31-year-old title contender.

“Right now I feel that he’s just more difficult because, once again — I’ve said it before — this is his second opportunity at a title shot. So he’s going to bring everything that he can bring to win that title. People get second chances in life and this is his second chance, just like it’s my second chance in life when I returned to the UFC,” continued Johnson.

“And you see what has happened so far… (me) starting from the bottom and basically working my way to the top. Well, DC was already at the top and he didn’t get to reach his goal that he was set out to reach with the title shot against Jon. Now he has another chance and it’s just going to be a tougher fight. I expect that. I know that and I know I’m a wrestler at heart and Danny’s a wrestler at heart. So I know what it takes to be at this level, and when you get a chance you’ve got to definitely hop on it,” he said.

“To me, he’s just going to be a tougher opponent. He might be shorter than me, but the dude packs a lot of power. And Jon isn’t known for packing power. He’s known for doing crazy kicks and using his range and his reach or whatever you want to call it; stuff like that. DC is just that guy and I truly believe that. So to me that just makes for more of a difficult fight, but that’s what I look forward to,” reiterated “Rumble.”

Johnson expects a war with Cormier on Saturday that he anticipates will require a well-rounded approach to win.

“So we’re a little crazy because we are wrestlers, so it’s just going to be one of those fights that is just… I assume an all-out war. And you get to see everything. And Daniel has power. He has speed, good technique. His wrestling is top-notch. Nobody can deny that.”