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Dana White: Jon Jones wants Daniel Cormier instead of Alexander Gustafsson

5K views 98 replies 30 participants last post by  King Daisuke 
#1 ·
http://mmajunkie.com/2014/06/dana-w...niel-cormier-instead-of-alexander-gustafsson?

It’s not contract negotiations holding up a potential rematch between UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones (20-1 MMA, 14-1 UFC) and Alexander Gustafsson (16-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC), according to Dana White.

The UFC president today told UFC.com that instead, it’s Jones’ desire to fight Daniel Cormier (15-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) rather than Gustafsson.

“Just to clear up a couple things, people think we’re in contract negotiations with Jon Jones – we’re not,” he said. “Jon Jones still has five fights left on his contract. So what we’re doing right now is trying to get him to sign the bout agreement for Gustafsson. He doesn’t want to fight Gustafsson. … Lorenzo and I have a meeting with Jones on Thursday to get him to sign the bout agreement, and he’s asking to fight Cormier instead.”

(The reason people thought the delay was due to contract negotiations was because that’s what White said a week ago. “We’re doing a new deal with him,” White said on May 24 when asked about the holdup.)

Fans have been clamoring for the Jones-Gustafsson rematch ever since their September scrap at UFC 165 ended in a “Fight of the Year” candidate – and a very narrow win for Jones.

However, former heavyweight Cormier entered the title picture following his UFC 173 victory over Dan Henderson, which moved “DC” to 2-0 at light heavyweight and 15-0 overall. Although Cormier was expected to fight the Jones-Gustafsson winner, “Bones” has expressed interest in fighting the Olympian and former Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix winner first.

The UFC, meanwhile, had long been planning on a Jones-Gustafsson rematch – pending wins for each fighter in their most recent bouts. In March Gustafsson took care of his half of the bargain, knocking out Jimi Manuwa in London. And in April, Jones dominated Glover Teixeira at UFC 172 to set up the rematch.

This past month, officials said they were planning for it to finally take place Aug. 30 at UFC 177 in Las Vegas and that Jones simply needed to accept it.

However, it appears Jones, who’s been relatively quiet in recent weeks, prefers a different opponent.

Gustafsson, meanwhile, keeps pressing for the rematch.

For more on UFC 177, stay stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.
I wouldn't complain...
 
#62 ·
Actually the opposite is true. It's usually a sign a fighter is overhyped. Fedor comes to mind. You had is fans who were ready to brawl when anything bad was said about him, yet most knew the last 5-7 years of his career he was vastly overrated. Finally, Henderson ended the debate. Fedor was king of an HW era, but ranked way too high for too long. I said it for years.

Cormier is also ranked way too high, which is why there's such controversy about him.
 
#68 ·
... just doesn't make sense! Alex and Jones participated in the fight of the year, they are equal size and their reach is almost identical, Alex "fat lipped" Jones and beat him up for three rounds straight in their first encounter and their rematch would make big bucks. They are destined to have their rematch next... and it just doesn't make sense to put Cormier in front of the line right away. Jones should fight The Mauler!!
 
#80 ·
You are right. But Dana won't care much. Jones has more leverage than a Diaz but not enough to make Dana his b*tch.

My problem isn't so much negotiating which I don't see it as anyway. To me he has 5 fights left, he is trying to take the guy with the knee injury. But it is how he addresses things like this. He acts like an idiot and contradicts what he says. DC was nothing last year, now that he beat a no namer and a 44 year old he is worthy as hell somehow.

It is more his terrible personality, girly social media vents, and contradictory excuses/statements that is more my problem with this situation. Not so much him jockeying for money if that is even what he is doing.

If he IS asking for more money the UFC should just say ok we will give you DC next after he fully recovers and keep Gustaf busy with some guy and then do that one after anyway. But like I have said in the past, UFC is desperate for headliners. They can't just have Jones sit. That is why they want Gustaf fight now....they have sat Gustaf out he is ready, DC is not. They need to fill PPV spots and it is hard when Gustaf has been out, Bones is stalling, Cain has been out, Pettis out, Weidman was hurt, Hendricks has been hurt.

DC is not really ready even though he said he would bypass the surgery now if he got a title shot. But I don't want to see that, who does. If DC loses he was injured. If its a goof fight DC wouldn't of "been at his best". Why do it under those stipulations?
 
#73 ·


Jones loves to contradict himself. Just a short while ago, Cormier was an irrelevant fat guy who doesn't deserve a shot, but now he's suddenly this amazing fighter? Make up your mind, son.

He posted this to instagram then immediately deleted it, as usual. Guy still doesn't realize how the internet works.

EDIT: Someone made a good point on another forum in saying that Cormier will be coming fresh off knee surgery if he were to Jones next. There's a good chance that Jones wants Cormier at his weakest.
 
#79 ·
Jones is a doofus, the guy isnt savy at all.

As for the actual fight, he fought and beat Gus, and as close as it was and as good a job Gus did, he ultimately lost because he couldn't hang with Jon in the fourth and fifth which everyone pretty much agrees are the for sure rounds. His cardio couldn't hold up and it cost him.

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#83 ·
The sad thing about this is, the Cormier fight does have a semblance of logic, therefore, Jones may get away with it. It stinks because people have completely misinterpreted DC's record. I think Jones is actually a better mma wrestler than DC, and he knows it.

My hope is, DC's knee needs surgery sooner than later, or even better, they sign, and DC is replaced by Gus. Now that would be some irony.
 
#84 ·
The other double-standard scenario just came back to me. GSP didn't want Hendricks (similar position to Gus/Cormier) and instead wanted Diaz who was coming off of a loss and a year-long suspension. Meanwhile, Hendricks had to face Condit before facing GSP. That would be like Bones calling for a fight with someone who has been out for a year while Gus fights Cormier.

Obviously Dana was fine with GSP/Diaz because it was a bigger draw than GSP/Hendricks, much like Bones/Gus would draw better than Bones/Cormier. So Dana being hypocritical I understand, but that doesn't really validate/excuse everyone on here being hypocritical. If you prefer Bones/Gus, fine. But to act like Jones is the only champion in history to try and choose his opponents is foolish.

(I don't want to sound like a homer; I still think Bones is in the wrong to some extent IF what Dana says is totally true. But could be a negotiation tactic, we don't know)
 
#85 ·
GSP didn't want to fight Hendricks either as you said, and GSP's very controversial win over Hendrick's shows the reason why. GSP also kept ducking the Anderson fight, but I could understand that as it was a different weight division. I remember many people rolling their eyes at GSP and many people including myself saying GSP needs to man up and just say he doesn't want to fight, stop pretending he does only to say no when it's time, it's sad.

Just because Jones isn't the only champion that has actively ducked a fighter doesn't mean he shouldn't get hate for it.
 
#86 ·
I don't recall GSP getting ANY flack for wanting to fight Diaz. People were so pumped up about it and said how it's such a great fight, so on and so forth. NOBODY (or if there were, they were in the huge minority) was saying how GSP shouldn't be picking fights, Hendricks should be getting it, etc.

Now with Bones, because more people on here would rather Gus, EVERYONE is saying how Bones shouldn't be picking fights, he's scared, etc.
 
#87 ·
I thought it was pretty damn silly. Diaz was in no way deserving of that fight and it played out exactly like anyone with any sort of MMA knowledge knew it would. A one sided fight that GSP controlled the entire time without coming even remotely close to finishing. It was pointless.
 
#90 ·
Champions trying to hand pick their opposition is one of the reasons that boxing has declined so much over the past 20 years. The champion should fight the guy that is put in front of him. If you really are the best than it shouldn't really matter who you are facing. Jones should fight whoever the bosses direct him to fight.
 
#95 ·
I recall a lot of people crying foul at gsp wanting to fight a guy coming off over actual deserving contenders. Most people saw the bs in that. Lol, gotta have your head pretty deep in in the sand. This situation is not as bad as what gsp managed to accomplish but it's still stinky.
 
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