Fabricio Werdum wants Daniel Cormier? 'DC' says it's perfect heavyweight finale

If Fabricio Werdum (17-5-1 MMA, 5-2 UFC) wants a fight with Daniel Cormier (12-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), “DC” said he’s in. In fact, other than teammate and current UFC champion Cain Velasquez, he’s willing to fight anybody the organization throws at him.

Cormier, a former Strikeforce grand prix winner who recently made his UFC debut with a victory over Frank Mir, is awaiting his next assignment. He’s cutting down to about 220 pounds for a final fight in his current division before a planned drop to light heavyweight.

Currently, many of the fighters in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie.com MMA heavyweight rankings are booked for other bouts. However, exceptions include No. 11 Stefan Struve and No. 12 Stipe Miocic, both of whom Cormier told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio) he’d gladly fight. But don’t let the conversation stop there.

“You didn’t ask me about Werdum,” Cormier said. “I just told you (I’ll fight) all of them, but you can’t skip the guy below me.”

Cormier is ranked No. 3 and Werdum is No. 5. So he’s open to that fight too?

“Why not?” Cormier said. “Well, he asked to fight me. Someone said (UFC President) Dana (White discussed it) in his scrum this week.”

As previously reported, Werdum recently visited the UFC offices, and soon after, rumors began circulating about a potential fight with Cormier. White suggested Werdum was the source of the rumors since he wants the fight so badly.

That’s all fine and well with Cormier. After all, back in May, Cormier said he’d gladly fight the winner of Werdum’s recent bout with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Werdum picked up a submission victory for his third straight UFC win. So Cormier said he’s still in.

“I just need a date and know when I’m fighting,” he said.

After that potential fight, Cormier said he still plans to move down to 205 pounds. He’s long discussed those plans, and he knows some fans are sicking of hearing about. He said when answering questions about a move to light heavyweight on Twitter, the usual responses are, “Well, shut up and do it.”

Cormier, though, has his reasons for the slow and methodical approach. If he can comfortably get down to 220 pounds and make that his walking-around weight, he shouldn’t have trouble competing at light heavyweight. After kidney issues caused by weight-cutting cut short his Olympic wrestling career, Cormier vowed he’d take the safe and steady approach in MMA.

Ideally, that would mean a win over someone like Werdum and then a fight with light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones. While Cormier and the champ aren’t exactly the best of friends, Cormier said it’s nothing personal, though, “I truly do believe he’s the best fighter in the world.”

Instead, Cormier is just using a game plan that would keep him from crossing paths with teammate Velasquez, who’s currently slated to fight Junior dos Santos in October’s UFC 166 headliner. Sure, he’d like to fight Jones, but only if he’s still the champion. It’s nothing personal.

“It’s not about him; it’s about me trying to be the champion and without fighting Cain Velasquez,” he said. “But if the champion is still Jon – and I don’t see anyone actually beating him – then why not test yourself against the best in the world?”

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

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