Daniel Cormier: Alexander Gustafsson could be 'golden ticket' to Jon Jones rematch

http://www.mmafighting.com/2015/1/26/7917703/daniel-cormier-alexander-gustafsson-could-be-golden-ticket-to-jon


From the moment Anthony "Rumble" Johnson forced his way into the next shot at Jon Jones' UFC light heavyweight title by running over Alexander Gustafsson on Sunday night, one logical next fight in the light heavyweight division became immediately clear: Gustafsson vs. Daniel Cormier.

Both guys are coming off recent, high-profile losses, and both are on the very short list of competitors fans consider legitimate title challengers at 205 pounds.

The man known as DC understands it, too.

"He's got the biggest name," Cormier said of Gustafsson on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour. "We're both coming off of a loss. So it would make sense. If that's the case, if they say Daniel, you and Alexander fight, and the winner will get a title shot against Anthony or Jon, then, yes."

Granted, Cormier is not one to pick his battles, saying he's never lobbied the UFC for a specific fight.

"I've never once picked a fight," he said. "UFC has always called me and said, ‘Daniel you're fighting this guy.' when I fought Jon for the belt, I had fought Patrick Cummins and Dan Henderson, but [Cummins] was supposed to be Rashad Evans, my first fight in the division was supposed to be Rashad Evans, so they always tell me. I never turn down a fight. If I was going to turn down any, it would have been Rashad because we're buddies."

Still, at age 35 and with his popularity at an all-time high despite his loss to Jones at UFC 182, Cormier understands that the right opponent is pivotal for his career moving forward.

"It needs to be guy with name recognition," Cormier said. "So where the people say, ‘ok Daniel beat this guy, we need to see him either fight for the championship again, or he's very close. Because to me Alexander and I, realistically, are two guys who could fight for the belt. Once you get past us, and Rashad, they're all rematches. past them who you going to put in the cage with Jon?"

Which brings Cormier back to Gustafsson.

"Maybe the golden ticket is Gustafsson," he said. "Because if Rashad gets Gustafsson, maybe Rashad gets the title shot."

well to be honest who else is there really the UFC can sell right now to fight jones? rumble,gus,dc really are the only names that scream they may have a chance against jones.

There really isn't anyone unless Anderson Silva would have any interest that I'd want to see.

I think this can mean only one thing;
If Jones gets by Johnson, he should/will move up to HW.

The Gustaffson rematch has lost a lot of sparkle, even if Gus fights Cormier and blows through him. Cormier himself- while competitive early on- didn't show anything overly impressive when he fought Jones. Jones handled Rashad pretty easily. Who else is there?

I can't really even think of an up-and-comer who the UFC could realistically market as some kind of "new threat". St. Preux maybe, if he can get another high-profile win?

Yeah, he's really cleared it out.
No way I'd want to see Davis or Bader get a shot.

Rockhold and Silva are huge MWs and I would not mind seeing either of those fights.
Who knows, if Wiedman rag dolls Belfort (certainly possible) maybe his ego would want the challenge.

I don't see Jones doing very well at HW, but maybe that's just me.

Yeah he'd have to beef up a little to be able match strength with the HWs, but his height and reach are probably very comparable to most of them.
I'm pretty positive he'd get buzzsaw'd by Cain, but I can think of quite a few intriguing, high-profile fights for him at HW.
JDS, Struve, Travis Browne, Stipe, just to name a few.

Joe Silva may have the best fucking job on the planet (that's assuming it's not just a marketing job).

if jones beats rumble id like to see a rashad rematch id also like to see gegard mousasi fight jones. i know he has been fighting at 185 but there is something about that fight that intrigues me.

id also love to see browne, stipe, big country,brock vs jones