UFC 181 newcomer Justin Jones: I would've fought Daniel Cormier if asked

Justin Jones

If Justin Jones can walk the walk like he can clearly talk the talk, the UFC newcomer could soon be making some waves in the organization.

Jones (3-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) moves up a weight class to fight light heavyweight and “The Ultimate Fighter 19? winner Corey Anderson (4-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) on short notice tonight at UFC 181. Their preliminary-card bout airs on FOX Sports 1 prior to the pay-per-view main card at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Jones, who initially fought as a light heavyweight but moved to middleweight for his pro debut earlier this year, took the fight just two weeks ago. He’s a replacement for Jonathan Wilson, who was a replacement for Gian Villante. While “TUF” winners are sometimes treated with kid gloves, Jones said the organization is doing Anderson no favors tonight.

“I’m pretty sure he’s got a harder opponent now because his last opponent he was supposed to have, Jonathan Wilson, that dude has super-easy fights,” Jones told MMAjunkie Radio. “I looked at his record. He was fighting guys, and when they get hit in the forehead, they were falling over already.

“If (Anderson) hits me in the forehead, I’ll hit him back harder. I ain’t going to be falling over for anyone. And I guarantee you he doesn’t know how to use his range. I watched his fights on the reality show, and if he gets up in front of my face and makes it a boxing match, it’s going to be a short night for him. Really short.”

Jones, of course, clearly doesn’t lack confidence. It’s one reason he didn’t hesitate to take the fight despite having just three pro fights to his name. In his most recent one, a June victory over John Hackleman Jr. at RFA 15, he pulled off his second straight guillotine choke despite being a significant underdog.

So when the UFC called and offered him tonight’s fight, he didn’t hesitate.

“I would’ve fought if they called me to fight Daniel Cormier,” he said. “I believe in myself. I’ve been the underdog half of my amateur career and half my pro career. My last fight, against John Hackleman, I had only an eight percent chance of winning. I came out there and made him look stupid.

“I have major punching power, and if I get lucky and land a punch on Daniel Cormier, I guarantee you he’ll go down too.”

Besides, he said, he’s always in fight shape. He’s not worried about his conditioning or octagon jitters. He said he trains hard – often up to 40 hours per week.

So there’s no need to pace himself as other short-notice fighters have?

“No way,” he said. “It’s all in people’s heads. As long as you keep training and don’t get lazy and start partying all the time, it wouldn’t be that big of an issue. It just means you’re not taking your job seriously enough.”

So, as he heads into tonight’s pivotal UFC-debut fight, what’s his prediction?

“First-round knockout,” he said. “I’m going to get in front of his face, and I’m going to keep the pressure on him the whole time. I’m not going to back up and let him get a breather or anything. Wrestlers don’t like to get hit, and as soon as they get hit, they’re going to shoot in. And if he shoots in, I guarantee you he gets choked out. I’ve got a world-class guillotine, and if he wants to feel it, give it a try.”

For more on UFC 181, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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