Jones says Cormier won't get title fight, predicts Teixeira or superfight next

Two days prior to his sixth attempted title defense, UFC light heavyweight Jon Jones is looking down the road at his next challenge.

Jones told Jim Rome he expects Glover Teixeira (22-2 MMA, 5-0 UFC) to be standing between him and the record for light heavyweight title defenses, but could also be in the mood for a superfight.

One person he doesn’t see fighting him any time soon is rival Daniel Cormier (12-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), who’s been rumored for a title shot at 205 pounds if successful against heavyweight Roy Nelson (19-8 MMA, 6-4 UFC) at UFC 166.

“As far as Daniel Cormier, he definitely won’t be getting a title fight,” said Jones, who on Saturday meets Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165 at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre. “I don’t think I would accept a fight against him. He’s a guy I don’t respect at all. I’d definitely make sure he loses the weight, makes 205 and make sure he earns a title shot.

“At the end of the day, the guy’s a hater. I’ve really done nothing wrong to the guy to have an issue with him, and every time I turn around he’s figuring out a way to have my name in his mouth.”

Cormier and Jones first clashed backstage at UFC 121, and then reportedly exchanged words at the 2012 World MMA Awards in Las Vegas. Jones downplayed the incident, and Cormier promised they would eventually fight.

Jones, however, is in the late stages of his promotional cycle for UFC 165, and he’s got the mic.

“I just don’t respect the guy at all, and I think the ultimate way to defeat him is to make him lose all that weight, which is tough work, make him earn a title fight, which is tough work, and then at the end of the day, walk away with nothing,” Jones said of “DC.”

Many fans wonder when Jones will gain weight to begin a new chapter in his thus-far spectacular career. The fighter has gone back and forth about when he’ll move up to heavyweight, but has yet to fully commit to a timeline.

Jones, however, can say that becoming the winningest light heavyweight in UFC history is at the top of his list.

“My biggest goal is to accomplish this record of seven title defenses,” he said. “But after that, I’m here for the fans. I’m an entertainer, and if (the fans) want to see me against a certain heavyweight, I’ll talk to my team and my coaching staff and see if it makes sense to us. But I’m predicting either Glover Teixeira or some interesting superfights for the fans.”

Asked how he matches up with the hard-slugging Brazilian, Jones (18-1 MMA, 12-1 UFC) was no less confident in his superiority than with his fight this Saturday against Gustafsson (15-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC).

“I feel great against Glover Teixeira, definitely,” he said. “I think he’s a little slower of an athlete. He has great power. But i have really big eyes when I’m out there and I see things coming, and I come well-prepared. He reminds me of ‘Rampage’ Jackson. The difference is, he attacks your takedowns a little bit more and he has better grappling. But I’m a pretty well-rounded fighter, and very confident.”

For more on UFC 164, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Jon Jones)