One of the biggest criticisms surrounding UFC of late is that the company has added so many events to the schedule that it's watered down the product. However, UFC 182 proved the company can still put on a great show every now and then.
In the main event, Jon Jones retained his light heavyweight title, beating Daniel Cormier by unanimous decision.
#AndStill the undisputed UFC light-heavyweight champion of the world...@JonnyBones! #UFC182 pic.twitter.com/oGd4vfswDw
— #UFC182 (@ufc) January 4, 2015
UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey felt that Jones was a deserving winner:
#andstill brilliant
— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) January 4, 2015
The animosity between the two fighters often spilled over when they made public appearances leading up to UFC 182. They made it clear that they didn't like one another. After his victory, Jones couldn't help rubbing some salt in Cormier's wounds, per MMAFighting.com:
Jon Jones: “For everybody who bought a Break Bones shirt, take it back now. You wasted your money."
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) January 4, 2015
Jon Jones: “I’m sorry I’m being classless right now. I don’t like DC and that’s why I’m being this way."
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) January 4, 2015
The champ also paused to take some selfies with fans, per Bleacher Report MMA:
And now Jones is taking selfies with the fans.
— Bleacher Report MMA (@BR_MMA) January 4, 2015
The bout started off really well, with Jones and Cormier arguably exchanging the advantage in the first two rounds. Most had the score even going into the third.
That's when Jones asserted himself as the superior fighter on the night. From the third round on, he built more and more distance between himself and Cormier.
Bryan Alvarez of Figure Four Weekly didn't think Cormier managed to match his effort level from his impressive second-round showing:
Cormier not the same after a great second round #UFC182
— Bryan Alvarez (@bryanalvarez) January 4, 2015
MMA Supremacy felt there was a long stretch in the middle rounds when the challenger failed to mount any sort of attack:
DC has not done a thing now for about 7 minutes. Jon Jones taking this easy if DC can't muster any offense in the last 3 minutes.
— MMA Supremacy (@MMASupremacy) January 4, 2015
Yahoo Sports' Kevin Iole correctly posited that anything short of a knockout, submission or referee stoppage in the final round would mean a win for the champion:
They touch gloves to start fifth and then come out hard. The fight is on the line for Cormier. Think he needs a finish
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) January 4, 2015
ESPN's Todd Grisham thought Cormier simply didn't have enough left in the tank to finish off the fight and that the talent gap only exacerbated the problem:
Round 5 to jones. Cormier ran out of Gas. Had one big take down but that's it. Jones' height, reach and skills to much for DC
— Todd Grisham (@GrishamESPN) January 4, 2015
With Jones having conquered another challenger, the focus will now shift to his next potential opponent. Some might clamor for a rematch with Cormier. ESPN's Max Bretos argued against it, feeling that there isn't any doubt about who is the superior fighter:
Jones beating Cormier at his own game. The barrage of takedowns impressive. Don't need to see that fight again. #UFC182
— Max Bretos (@mbretosESPN) January 4, 2015
The next logical choice would be Alexander Gustafsson. After all, Gustafsson was set to fight Jones at UFC 178 before having to back out after suffering an injury in training.
The 27-year-old Swede pushed Jones to the limit back at UFC 165, and a rematch would almost certainly be among the most anticipated fights of the year.
