Daniel Cormier: I Want the Winner of Big Nog and Werdum
Daniel Cormier is one of the most talked-about heavyweights in the UFC today, even at a time when Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos are fresh off of huge wins at UFC 160. Talk of Cormier cutting down to 205 lbs. in order to face UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is at an all-time high, but Cormier has another idea altogether, stating the following at a Q&A session prior to UFC 160:
“I want to face the winner of the fight between Nogueira and Werdum.”
A comment a bit out of left field for Cormier, who of course wants to avoid a bout with good friend Cain Velasquez at all costs. But BJJ wizards Nogueira and Werdum are soon to face off at the TUF: Brazil 2 finale this June, and the winner will find himself in an enviable bargaining position for their next bout.
Could that next bout be a date with Cormier, the surging heavyweight riding a huge hype train ever since his Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix win last May? I think that the bout could make sense for the UFC. Either Werdum or Nogueira would be a great test to gauge Cormier’s title readiness, as jiujitsu is the one area in which Cormier has readily admitted he needs improvement in. His ground skills would be tested to the fullest should he choose to take either Big Nog or Vai Cavalo down.
So perhaps Cormier will be on an eventual collision course with Jon Jones, but could it be at heavyweight? There are a few fights left for Jones at 205, including Alexander Gustafsson, Glover Teixeira, and maybe even Hendo should he get past Rashad Evans impressively at UFC 161. Any way you slice it, Daniel Cormier will have a blockbuster fight as his next bout. Who is your pick ?
