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In three weeks, it will be one full year since the UFC light heavyweight championship has been on the line.
The last time we saw UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier in the Octagon he was supposed to fight Jon Jones to unify the UFC light heavyweight and interim light heavyweight belts. Instead, Jones was pulled from the event just days before due to a failed USADA test and instead Cormier faced MMA hero and middleweight GOAT, Anderson Silva in a three-round, non-title affair. Since then, the prevailing logic has been that Cormier's next fight will be a title defense against Anthony Johnson in a rematch of their May 2015 fight.
Then, the story took a turn. Jones - who is under temporary suspension for testing positive for Hydroxy-clomiphene, an anti-estrogenic agent, and a Letrozole metabolite, an aromatase inhibitor - has been suggesting that investigations before his appeals with USADA and the NAC have turned up good news and that he will "be back in the Octagon really soon." Jones has yet to face his official hearing but his looming presence has called the Cormier-Johnson fight into question. This was exacerbated by comments from UFC President Dana White who suggested that Jones' return could come in an interim title fight against Anthony Johnson instead of the assumed rematch between DC and Rumble.
But not everyone is happy with that idea. Speaking with Brian Stann on Toe-2-Toe on SiriusXM Rush, Cormier addressed the Jones return rumors and Dana White's idea to have Jones and Johnson square off for the interim title.
"Now one thing I completely disagree with, completely - and I don't care who hears it - why in the hell would Jon still be the interim champion? That makes no sense. That makes absolutely no sense. They should not be fighting for an interim championship. That makes no sense at all. I don't even know why he would still be the interim champion. His ass was disqualified. Take that freakin' belt off of him. That's stupid.
"I hope to God Dana misspoke, because that makes absolutely no sense. They aren't fighting for some interim title if they fight. They can fight in the main event because it's a big fight but it's a fun fight. If they fight, they fight to determine the number one contender it's not some interim championship fight. That makes no sense at all... You'd have an interim champion defending the interim championship while the actual champion is actually still there. That makes no sense whatsoever."
It is currently unclear whether Jones actually still has an official interim title. After the temporary suspension, Jones was dropped from the official UFC rankings, which would seem to indicate a stripping of the title but no official confirmation has ever come down.
As for his return, Jones faces up to a one-year suspension from USADA with more possible from the NAC. If things are as fortuitous as Jones appears to believe, the most likely scenario would be a six-month suspension from USADA as happened with Jones sometimes training partner, Yoel Romero. A six-month suspension could mean Jones is eligible to return early next year. If Cormier sits on the sidelines while all of this occurs, that would mean the actual UFC light heavyweight title will go well over a full year without being defended.
This doesn't appear to be in Cormier's plans though. Cormier and Johnson have both made it very clear that neither of them are concerned with Jones right now and both are eyeing a title tilt between themselves. But as the confusion continues, the odds of a light heavyweight title fight before the end of the year get longer. In fact, the presumed fight card for their bout, the UFC's momumental return to New York at UFC 205, is already off the table according to Cormier.
"At this point [that]'s not being discussed. Honestly, that window is gone for me. I need like 10 to 12 weeks because I enjoy my time away from the Octagon. I hang with my family, we go on vacation, we do fun things and I tend to eat quite a bit when I'm on vacation...So that time for me is gone. I couldn't compete to the best of my ability in New York. I wouldn't be comfortable taking a fight there."
A 10-12 week timeline means Cormier and Johnson could still sneak in a title bout in December, but the UFC would have to start making those plans now. Still, that's what Cormier believes will happen.
"That's what I expect but you never know," said Cormier. "I haven't heard anything."
MUST-READ STORIES
Obligation. Mickey Gall says he felt "a strong obligation to make an example" out of CM Punk.
Unfair. Alexander Gustafsson believes it would be unfair if Jon Jones got an immediate title shot upon UFC return.
Viewers. UFC 203 prelims bring in 830K viewers, peak with Eye vs. Correia.
Pride never die. Mirko Cro Cop to return for RIZIN openweight tournament first round.
Return. Jordan Mein is coming out of retirement, hopes to fight this fall in the UFC.
MEDIA STEW
I always enjoy these things.
Julianna Pena interview.
Garbrandt interview.
The Overeem part made me laugh harder than I have in awhile.
LISTEN UP
Jack Slack
Nick the Tooth tells his side.
Severe MMA
TWEETS
Well deserved.
My wife. Our honeymoon. Finally. https://t.co/wpHYZDf707
— Stipe Miocic (@stipemiocicufc) September 14, 2016
Wish more pro MMA fighters thought this way. Would love to see BJ in competition instead of coming back again.
I Hear Competition Jiu Jitsu In My Future @eddiebravo #EBI @UFCFightPass #DoABarrelRoll#IminariMotherTruckas
— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) September 13, 2016
Apparently Aldo has been saying if he can't get McGregor he wants Pettis. Holloway deserves it but Pettis is definitely more of a money fight.
Dont make me lose respect 4u @Josealdojunior Im the $$ fight! But if I was u I wouldnt want 2fight me either#nobodydoes #nancys #maxforgold
— Jerome-Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) September 13, 2016
Jesus.
Cinnamon bun pic.twitter.com/deuSTVDpU9
— Sage Northcutt (@sagenorthcutt) September 13, 2016
The Next Generation.
. @SpiderAnderson - I heard you son is training. Should we set a date? pic.twitter.com/yYvJYDkXFN
— Chael Sonnen (@ChaelSonnen) September 14, 2016
Fun times.
People having fun on Wikipedia today @SeanSheehanBA pic.twitter.com/EyDl90dX84
— Patrick Sheehan (@patsheehan123) September 13, 2016
Lol
Lol pic.twitter.com/UXMRLrkLjr
— Derrick Lewis (@Thebeast_ufc) September 12, 2016
Condolences Ken Flo.
Dodson is so small.
Anderon's breaking kayfabe and speaking English for a very good cause.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Andre Fili (15-4-0) vs. Hacran Dias (23-4-1); UFC Fight Night 96, October 1.
Erik Perez (16-6-0) vs. Felipe Arantes (18-7-1); UFC Fight Night 98, November 5.
Josh Copeland (12-4-0) vs. Smealinho Rama (9-2-0); WSOF 34, November 12.
Yushin Okami (32-10-0) vs. Paul Bradley (23-6-0); WSOF 34, November 12.
TODAY IN MMA HISTORY
1998: Guy Mezger defeated Ryushi Yanagisawa by a points decision to successfully defend his King of Pancrase title at Pancrase: 1998 Anniversary Show.
FINAL THOUGHTS
If you happen to have a Sirius radio subscription, I highly encourage you to go listen to the full segment with Cormier and Stann, specifically their discussion of Kyle Snyder. For one it is smart dialogue, but more importantly Cormier shows he's aware and has a sense of humor. It's the kind of thing that people should see more of because DC really seems like an awesome dude and people hate on him something fierce.
That's it for today y'all. Happy hump day and see you tomorrow.
If you find something you'd like to see in the Morning Report, just hit me up on Twitter @JedKMeshew and let me know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram and add us on Snapchat at MMA-Fighting because we post dope things and you should enjoy them.
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