Earlier this week, UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier got into it over social media with his rival Jon Jones. Now, another light heavyweight contender is throwing heated comments at Cormier.

Making an appearance on MMA-Panelen, third-ranked Jimi Manuwa had some choice words for the light heavyweight champion, responding to Cormier’s appearance on The MMA Hour a few weeks ago where Cormier said he was offered a fight with Manuwa but he wanted the Jones rematch because it “got his juices going” whereas Manuwa “has no chance” against him.

“F**k Daniel Cormier. He’s a f**king fat wrestler and I don’t really give a s**t what he says. Everyone says he’s a nice guy but I don’t really like him. He seems to me like a bully and I don’t like bullies. He’s got the belt, he’s a great fighter and everything. I respect him for that but as a person I don’t really like him. I don’t like his attitude towards other fighters. He kind of looks down on people and stuff. So I don’t really respect him and I don’t believe he will get out of round two with me,” Manuwa said.

“I think his last fight with [Anthony] ‘Rumble’ Johnson, Rumble let him off lightly. I believe that Rumble made huge mistakes in that fight and he probably knows it himself. That’s not the way to fight a wrestler or someone like Daniel Cormier. I won’t be making those mistakes against Cormier if I fight him. So f**k Daniel Cormier and for now I’m just focused on Volkan and we’ll cross that bridge after I beat Volkan Oezdemir.”

Manuwa began calling for a title shot against Cormier after knocking out Corey Anderson at UFC Fight Night 107 and was seated cageside for Cormier’s most recent title defense against Anthony Johnson. When Cormier vs. Jones 2 was booked for UFC 214, Manuwa was matched against rising contender Oezdemir on the undercard, ostensibly as a backup plan should Jones have another issue force him out of the bout on short notice. With the event less than two weeks away, that is looking less likely to happen but if it does, Manuwa says he is still ready to jump in.

“It’s been said but my focus has been fully on Volkan Oezdemir. I’m so focused on him, I think about him every day. I think about him in training. I think about him when I’m tired. I’m fully focused on him. But to me, I don’t see names, I just see bodies. I’ve just got an opponent and I’m training for him. Whether it be Volkan Oezdemir, whether it be Daniel Cormier, whether it be Jon Jones, whoever. I’ve just got an opponent and I’m training for him. So it doesn’t really matter who I’m fighting.”

Should Manuwa score another impressive knockout, it would figure to place him next in line for a title shot. However, depending on the outcome of the main event, Manuwa could get passed over for his friend and teammate, Alexander Gustafsson, who recently scored a big knockout win over Glover Teixeira and is currently ranked second in the division. Gustafsson has lost extremely close decisions to both Jones and Cormier and could be seen as the more lucrative option for the winner. But Manuwa says the performance he’s going to put on against Oezdemir will send a message to the entire light heavyweight division and hopefully put him next in line.

“I don’t know. If Jones wins, I think Alex and Jones two would be such a huge fight but at the same time, I haven’t fought Jon Jones. I believe Jon Jones will got knocked out if he fought me. I believe DC won’t get out of round two if he fought me. Alex has fought Jones and DC in two razor sharp fights so him against any one of them would be a huge, massive fight. Me against any one of them would be the unknown and me knocking out Oezdemir is gonna send shockwaves through the whole of the division saying I’m the real deal.”

For his part, Cormier doesn’t seem to be fazed by Manuwa’s comments.

Jimi Manuwa faces Volkan Oezdemir as the main card opener at UFC 214 in Anaheim, Calif. on July 29.

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VIDEO STEW

Conor being Conor.

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Michael Rapaport’s first minute here is pretty spot on.

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LISTEN UP

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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Jon had himself a day on Twitter.

This bodes ill.

Yoel giving props.

Still lobbying.

I’m not sure how the last one is the one that matters when Gunni was already on skates.

Classic MMA. Choked out and then come back to win.

And some more classic MMA, guy holding on way too long.

Conor.

Gets the Luke Thomas seal of approval.

Sign this dude on bag hitting alone.

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mike Perry (10-1) vs. Thiago Alves (22-11); UFC Fight Night 116, Sept. 16.

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TODAY IN MMA HISTORY

2012: Karl Amoussou submitted Bryan Baker to win the Bellator welterweight tournament at Bellator 72.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

Another day where I really, really wish we had polls still but sound off in the comments on who you would rather see the winner of Cormier vs. Jones 2 face, Manuwa (assuming he gets by Oezdemir or Gustafsson?

Take it easy and see y’all tomorrow.

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