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At 36, UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier can't wait for Jon Jones forever.
With Jones suspended and stripped of his title, Cormier has kept busy making sure he's first in line when Jones returns.
Speaking with UFC commentators Jon Anik and Kenny Florian, Cormier says he'll be ready to redeem himself following his first career loss to Jones at UFC 182 in January.
"I've said it before the [Gustafsson] fight. Everyone up here, me, Rashad Evans, Ryan Bader, Alexander Gustafsson, we're fighting each other and we're preparing but everybody wants that fight," Cormier said of Jones. "Make no mistake about it. It's a sweepstakes to see who gets that fight against Jones. I just want it to be me. I've long said that Jones is the guy that can really compete with me in this weight class. Obviously, he beat me.
"I think I'm as good if not better than everyone else. I feel like I'm good enough to beat Jones. I want to be regarded as the best guy in the world and I want to beat the best guy in the world. When he gets back I want to be the guy standing across the Octagon from him. Jan. 3 settled nothing for me. I knew that was only the beginning. That was the appetizer."
Cormier doesn't have any idea when a rematch with Jones could be booked, but now says he'd be open to face the former champ on his home turf in New York. The UFC has booked New York City's famed Madison Square Garden for an Apr. 23 event, likely to be UFC 198.
Cormier had previously said he had no intention of letting Jones "fight where he was comfortable" and that he wanted the former champ to "hear the anger for the actions he did."
"New York City happens in April. Yup, let's do it. If not, let's do it at UFC 200. Let's blow that s**t right up."
If he should lose to Jones a second time, Cormier hints he may decide to hang up the gloves.
Admitting that he does worry about his legacy, Cormier says he won't be sticking around past his expiration date.
"Let's say the wheels start to fall off and I lose or I lose twice," said Cormier. "I'll probably be done. My resume, my career and my legacy in this sport means more to me then collecting some checks. I'm going to do it until I'm not competitive and when I'm not competitive and not winning at the level that I'm winning now, I'll walk away. Yes, legacy does matter to me and I want to leave a good one in MMA."
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Ready. UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw says he's now open to a fight with Urijah Faber.
'She's my woman and I'm her man.' Travis Browne confirms his relationship with UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey.
'Let him ride his drama wave.' Duane Ludwig says Urijah Faber is just upset because Conor McGregor "punked" him on The Ultimate Fighter.
No GOAT. Chael Sonnen believes "history is not going to reflect well on Fedor Emelianenko." "He's definitely overrated."
'They move a lot, but that's not a problem.' John Lineker is confident he can KO both T.J. Dillashaw and Dominick Cruz. "I would not hunt them down, I would let them come."
Watch The MMA Hour with TJ Dillashaw, Duane Ludwig, Sage Northcutt, Johny Hendricks, Travis Browne, Joseph Duffy, Cody Garbrandt and Jon Fitch in studio.
MEDIA STEW
Ronda Rousey throwing people on Regis and Kathie Lee.
Luke Rockhold spends a day in Paris.
TMZ asking questions about Ronda Rousey and domestic violence.
Nick Newell kicking and choking people on The Dan Patrick Show.
MMA fighter with Down's syndrome battling for the right to fight.
A day with Dan Hardy at sea.
Long watches.
KNUCKLE UP #345 What s Going to Happen Now Bold predictions
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(quickie) Ali Abdel-Aziz says Rousimar Palhares is out of second chances.
TWEETS
Down to the wire.
http://t.co/hV5CEcSKGP #77k #2DaysLeft https://t.co/xuM0qw08hJ pic.twitter.com/GNYJinl8W7
— nick diaz (@nickdiaz209) October 12, 2015
Camping.
#UFC193 training camp week 2 #rouseyVSholm #UFCMelbourne #Nov14th #andSTILL Link to order tickets in... https://t.co/POrDWviMOb
— Ronda Rousey (@RondaRousey) October 12, 2015
Day 1 One of my many goals this fight camp is to gain more flexibility & especially facing the Karate Hottie pic.twitter.com/SdQAo4dg4a
— Tecia Torres (@TeciaTorres) October 12, 2015
You never know.
If all of your friends and family think someone is a douchebag, he's not misunderstood, he (or she) is a douchebag #adviceFromMom
— DrAnnMaria (@DrAnnMaria) October 12, 2015
I have 4 daughters & a #startup so why people think every tweet applies to 1 daughter, I don't know
— DrAnnMaria (@DrAnnMaria) October 13, 2015
Encouraging.
Great news! A weeky show "FUJIYAMA FIGHT CLUB" produced by Daisuke Sato will start airing on FUJI TV at 1:55 am #rizinff #fujiyamafightclub
— NOBUYUKI SAKAKIBARA (@nobu_sakakibara) October 13, 2015
We are working of the logo. If you feel like you have the right design, let me know! #rizinff #rizinlogo
— NOBUYUKI SAKAKIBARA (@nobu_sakakibara) October 13, 2015
Beef.
Just posted a photo https://t.co/VnCt6xwA6e
— TJ Dillashaw (@TJDillashaw) October 12, 2015
I never hate on a mans hustle. McGregor deserves it, he put in the work. Sage has not. He don't deserve shit https://t.co/z2iaGOWzn1
— Kevin Lee (@MoTownPhenom) October 12, 2015
"Mike Will punch a hole in your head" i will come to London and i will make you cry infront of your own people! pic.twitter.com/wxJyhCqlo0
— Makwan Amirkhani (@MakwanAmirkhani) October 12, 2015
Moving on.
Life is like a book, as one chapter ends another one begins. Wish I could thank everyone of you... https://t.co/qBXtQ2mLzi
— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) October 12, 2015
BMW.
Another day, another addition. #Fleet https://t.co/9n5RnY7mch pic.twitter.com/uK1kpIbJ4L
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 12, 2015
Blowback.
Lol pic.twitter.com/NI8pom598h
— Derrick Lewis (@Thebeast_ufc) October 12, 2015
It's no different than someone filming a street fight...SORT OF lol
— Derrick Lewis (@Thebeast_ufc) October 12, 2015
I wasn't at the game my phone was hacked lol
— Derrick Lewis (@Thebeast_ufc) October 12, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Oct. 12 2015)
Narantungalag Jadamba vs. Marat Gafurov at ONE Championship 35
Major Overall vs. Kotetsu Boku at ONE Championship 34
Natalie Gonzales Hills vs. Angela Lee at ONE Championship 34
Amir Khan vs. Jimmy Yabo at ONE Championship 34
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's Fanpost of the Day comes via Yo Jo.
GSP on Nick Diaz suspension, Hendricks missing weight...
GSP was interviewed today by Quebec's RDS network (similar to TSN) in Montreal. Since the interview was in french, it doesn't seem to have been reported in american MMA media.
For those interested, here's a translation of his comments on both questions.
When asked about his thoughts on Nick Diaz as a person and on the latter's 5 years suspension:
"Nick is a very charismatic guy, he gets a lot of media attention. A lot of things were said before our fight but it was purely on a sporting level, I don't hate him, I never took it personally."
"Personally, I think 5 years is a lot, especially if you compare his case to Anderson Silva or other athletes who got caught cheating and received a lighter suspension. I think they wanted to use him as an example because of how colourful he is and of the attention he gets. They wanted to create a precedent similar to what has been done in Olympic sports with Marion Jones for example. Unfortunately, it happened to fall on him, but I think everyone is entitled to a second chance."
...
Check out the rest of the post here.
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