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With UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones in the midst of contract negotiations, Daniel Cormier has his own contingency plan.
"I know this will probably be unpopular, but if [Jones] won't sign, whether it be for money or a lack of wanting to fight the kid, I'll fight Alexander Gustafsson," Daniel Cormier told SportsWorldNews.com. "But it should be for the interim title."
Jones is tentatively planned to defend his title to Gustafsson on Aug. 30 at UFC 177. Gustafsson signed his own bout agreement last week, but the fight can't be made official until Jones hammers out the new deal.
"If they're putting a belt on the line, I don't care what date it is," said Cormier. "It was never about Jones, I just want the title. Besides, it'll work out better for [Jones]; he won't have to fight both of us."
Cormier explained his championship priorities following a dominating performance against Dan Henderson at UFC 173, but wasn't as quick to drop Jones from the discussion.
"I want to be the champion, that's really why I started fighting," Cormier told media at the event's post-fight press conference. "I'm 35-years-old, it's not like I'm a kid, so I can't wait too long. But, you know, it means something to beat Jon Jones. I know Dana [White], we all praise Alexander Gustafsson for what he's done, he's a great fighter. But it means a little bit more to beat a Jon Jones."
Although UFC president Dana White disapproved of the idea, Cormier also said he intended on remaining sidelined to wait for his eventual shot at the title. Currently ranked No. 2 behind only Gustafsson and Jones, Cormier admitted he could be lured back into action if the UFC could 'come up with something good.'
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Double Header. Chuck Mindenhall approved of the UFC's Day O' Violence.
Fortunes changed for five. Dave Meltzer explains how Warlley Alves, C.B. Dollaway, Stipe Miocic, Gegard Mousasi and Mark Munoz move forward.
Chael scrum. Chael Sonnen talks Wanderlei Silva, Vitor Belfort, Ronda Rousey, Conor McGregor and more.
Wrecked. Mark Munoz will undergo an MRI after suffering a knee injury early in his fight with Gegard Mousasi.
'Hard to forgive.' Dana White still isn't sure if he's ready to welcome Paul Daley back to the UFC.
MEDIA STEW
Main event finishes.
Chael Sonnen talks TUF Brazil finals.
Highlights from Dana White's pre-fight scrum in Berlin. Full scrum here.
Highlights from Demian Maia vs. Alexander Yakovlev.
In case you missed Wanderlei Silva's statement.
Move over, Miesha Tate. Tammi Musumeci is the toughest chick you've never seen. [Warning - graphic]
Long watches.
Fight Night Sao Paulo: Post-fight Press Conference
...
Joe Rogan Experience - Fight Companion - May 31, 2014 (Brazil card)
TWEETS
Make sure to check out our Pros React piece from this weekend's UFC double header.
Victory lap.
Thank you to the Brazilian fans you've been unbelievable. Thank you @MaldonadoMMA for taking this fight on short notice. You're a warrior.
— Stipe Miocic (@smiocic) June 1, 2014
Obrigado a todos pelo apoio e carinho, mto feliz com a vitória!Thanks to all for the support, very happy w/ the Win! pic.twitter.com/DucbHEdHcc
— Demian Maia (@demianmaia) June 1, 2014
Just want to thank god for another victory! It was a tough one but we got the job done! Thank you... http://t.co/p36Vmy5CmJ
— Robbie Peralta (@PeraltaMMA) June 1, 2014
With my bros GasanUmalatov and Sam Kardan. Great night for all of us. pic.twitter.com/3RcUrjlA4w
— Rashid Magomedov (@RashidGorets) June 1, 2014
— Gasan Umalatov (@Gasan100) June 1, 2014
:))))) Happy time.... pic.twitter.com/evIb5tIywa
— Gegard Mousasi (@mousasi_mma) June 1, 2014
@DrewDober has the heart of a lion and a chin made out steel! It was a Honor to fight you and you stood up to your promise! That was #FOTN
— Nick Hein (@NickHeinMMA) June 1, 2014
I wanna fight more unbeaten guys. What about strickland?! That Would be a good fight!!
— JyckenCedenblad (@MagnusCedenblad) June 1, 2014
Ich hab's geschafft! http://t.co/0Nir4iYKsp
— Peter Sobotta (@PeterSobotta) May 31, 2014
Better luck next time.
@bernardo_matos @Vithai keep ur head up dude good things are waiting for you trust me ur a great fighter
— The Bad Guy (@jimmyquinn3) June 1, 2014
2 min do 1 Round, fratura exposta, mais 13 min de luta. "VERAS QUE UM FILHO TEU NAO FOGE A LUTA" http://t.co/R7sBxfjxc0
— Rony Mariano Bezerra (@RonyJasonMMA) June 1, 2014
2 min of Round 1, compound fracture, 13 more minutes of fighting. "You will see that your son does not run from a fight"
Will pick up the pieces and keep going. Thanks to all for ur support. http://t.co/cwNYkDhECs #UFCBerlin @team_munoz pic.twitter.com/dEjHRgXcGc
— Mark Muñoz (@mark_munoz) May 31, 2014
La défaite fait partie du sport il faut juste savoir se relever. Hard work. Merci aux gens qui me soutiennent. http://t.co/URty89agsN
— Francis Carmont (@franciscarmont) June 1, 2014
Some interesting morning reading. http://t.co/xWezt9wVdT pic.twitter.com/UoWstwLpRG
— Bigslow (@LukeBarnatt) June 1, 2014
I want a rematch Magnus had more luck rather than skill
— Krzysztof Jotko (@JotkoMMA) June 1, 2014
just lay down in bed after an adventurous weekend in berlin with the @ufc thank you @seanshelby @danawhite. fingers crossed its not the last
— Andy Ogle (@thelittleaxe) June 1, 2014
Rory beefin.
@MikeyRicci Id beat you and your BF Rory back to back no problem. Stop wasting my time you bum.
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) May 30, 2014
@MikeyRicci @Benaskren watched one of bens fights 2day, was very impressed with his technical ability its a shame he has no respect
— Rory MacDonald (@rory_macdonald) May 30, 2014
...
@rory_macdonald whenever the fuck they want to; that's when.
— War Machine (@WarMachine170) May 31, 2014
Askren fight.
Here is the link to my debut fight in ONE Fighting Championship if anyone wants to check it out!... http://t.co/hYMKh3u668
— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) June 1, 2014
Whoops.
@erikmagraken Germany's canvas got sent to Brazil. #someonefuckedupBIG
— Dana White (@danawhite) May 31, 2014
Awful.
My little brother just got killed in Rialto with four other family members if anyone has any info please help
— Bobby King Green (@BobbyKGreen) June 1, 2014
They killed Mitch pic.twitter.com/dCV9CgC5zV
— Bobby King Green (@BobbyKGreen) June 2, 2014
Signed.
Bout agreement signed and sent back to @ufc for @UFCONFOX 12. July 26th. San Jose, CA. #beimmortal #immortalchamp2014
— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) June 1, 2014
Crazy eyes.
I will sleep when the division has been annihilated. pic.twitter.com/WwtLMTfKXd
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) June 1, 2014
Haters are right.
Haters gonna hate pic.twitter.com/HJoJJEUhUR
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) May 31, 2014
Next level.
Today after hard sparring day, with my best sparring partner http://t.co/98OlhYPWSL
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) June 1, 2014
Writers.
I only read 2 analysis of my upcoming fight and apparently these dumb ass writers have never seen me fight and report based on stats
— John Moraga (@chicanojohn) June 2, 2014
Anderson at Mundials.
Ge parabéns estou muito feliz e orgulhoso de você . pic.twitter.com/1tzrf9gAZB
— Anderson Silva (@SpiderAnderson) June 2, 2014
Four spaces?
This is what we come back to when @thegorillajuice parks the car... pic.twitter.com/ySaP0cY6Or
— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) June 2, 2014
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced this weekend (May 30 - Jun. 1 2014)
NA
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's Fanpost of the Day comes via Bad to the Bone.
Imagine . . .The UFC Welter Weight Super Series
The exit of GSP and injury to Champ Johnny Hendricks, along with fights already scheduled to determine the next contender(s), leaves a lot of good fighters out of the mix with no hope for a title shot anytime soon. This has the potential to set up a welter weight super series to determine the next challenger; I would argue now is the time to do so as the 170 pound division has never been better. Robbie Lawler and Matt Brown are already matched up, so are Tyrone Woodley and Rory McDonald, along with Hector Lombard and Dong Hyun Kim. That leaves a slew of contenders to sort out, and to give a hypothetical idea consideration, with a long list of middle of the pack contenders not scheduled to fight, the UFC should capitalize on the logjam, with the winner getting a title shot.
The series could have a eight man bracket with names such as [1] Jake Ellenberger,[2] Nate Marquart, [3] Patrick Cote, [4] Rick Story, [5] Erick Silva, [6] Thiago Silva [7] Tarec Safferdine, the undefeated prospect is always an interesting storyline (much like Daniel Cormier became in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix), you have undefeated [8] Kevin Gustelum or Adam Khaliev. The point is there is more than enough fighters. You even have Damien Miaia and Jordan Mien sitting around. Stars also sitting on the shelf include Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz. Even Paul Daley is knocking on the door, wanting back in.
...
Check out the rest of the post here.
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