Daniel Cormier says he's interested in Werdum-Nogueira winner next

LAS VEGAS – While he’s still interested in dropping from heavyweight to light heavyweight, Daniel Cormier has a fight in mind before that happens.

The UFC heavyweight contender and former Strikeforce grand prix tournament winner on Friday said he’d be interested in a fight with the winner of next month’s bout between Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Fabricio Werdum.

Nogueira (34-7-1 MMA, 5-3 UFC) and Werdum (16-5-1 MMA, 4-2 UFC) meet in the main event of UFC on FUEL TV 10 on June 8, which takes place at Ginasio Paulo Sarasate in Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil. Their fight will come on the heels of coaching stints on “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 2.”

At a question-and-answer session with UFC FIght Club fans prior to the weigh-ins for UFC 160 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Cormier (12-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) said he doesn’t have a time table in place for a potential drop to 205 pounds.

But when pressed, he said he has interest in the Nogueira-Werdum winner if he fights again at heavyweight for his next bout.

But Cormier also said that when the time comes for him to drop to light heavyweight, he doesn’t believe he’ll have to worry about who he might have to face at 205 pounds. He believes he’ll be fighting for the title straight away.

“I think when I get down to that weight, they’re going to put me right in there for the belt,” Cormier said.

And he later sent a message to light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, who is a month removed from the fifth defense of his title – a first-round TKO of Chael Sonnen at UFC 159 in Newark, N.J.

“I haven’t started cutting weight yet, but we’ll fight at 220 tomorrow if he wants,” Cormier said. “He can walk in off the street and we’ll fight at any weight.”

Cormier said he plans to be fighting at 205 pounds by the end of the year.

Cormier made his UFC debut this past month with a unanimous decision victory over former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir at UFC on FOX 7 in San Jose, Calif., where he trains.

Prior to coming to the UFC from Strikeforce, Cormier went 8-0 in that promotion, including a knockout win over Antonio Silva and a five-round decision win over Josh Barnett. At Strikeforce’s finale in January, Cormier stopped Dion Staring with a second-round TKO.

But the big talk always has been on when Cormier will drop down to light heavyweight – not really if he’ll drop down. A heavyweight fight against the Nogueira-Werdum winner would put that off for a significant stretch.

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Daniel Cormier)