This past weekend’s UFC doubleheader and Saturday’s upcoming UFC 177 pay-per-view event have taken some of the spotlight off Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier’s brewing feud, but the upcoming title challenger recently dropped an interesting nugget on social media.
Cormier (15-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC), who was originally slated to vie for the title next month at UFC 178, instead will get his title shot on Jan. 3 at UFC 182 after Jones (20-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) recently injured his knee and underwent surgery.
The fight, though still four months away, is one of the biggest on the upcoming schedule, and it features the No. 1 and No. 3 205-pounders in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA light heavyweight rankings.
On Monday, a fan asked Cormier who’s next once he beats Jones (Cormier is currently a +145 underdog, so it’s far from a given): No. 2 Alexander Gustafsson (16-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC), whose knee injury postponed his own title shot and opened the door for Cormier, or No. 5 Anthony Johnson (18-4 MMA, 9-4 UFC), who’s shot up the rankings since his UFC return.
Neither, Cormier said. Instead, he’d give Jones an immediate rematch (via Twitter):
"@Loki_Broski_: @dc_mma so after you finish chicken boy @JonnyBones who would you like to defend you belt against? Guss or AJ" rematch!—
Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) August 25, 2014
The UFC certainly has an affinity for immediate title rematches (Saturday’s UFC 177 headliner between bantamweight champ T.J. Dillashaw and ex-champ Renan Barao, for example.)
Regardless, Cormier continues training for the new-year fight, which takes place in Las Vegas. On Monday, he posted proof of the hard training sessions (via Twitter and via Instagram)
Just filthy training today akahq. How else do u train for a fight? U fight. Getting ready. The grind… instagram.com/p/sIqI3PLg2J/—
Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) August 25, 2014
Meanwhile, on the Jones’ front, things are a little more laid back (both via Instagram):
For more on UFC 182, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.
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