Cormier: After Miocic, it is Jones or retirement
The most recent episode of Ariel Helwani’s MMA Present on Monday featured a dominant UFC champion, a number of high trainers and prospects in addition to one of many biggest pound-for-pound fighters ever.
Here is what you may need missed:
Cormier is just open to Jones trilogy after Miocic bout
UFC heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier, who fights former titleholder Stipe Miocic in the principle occasion of UFC 241, mentioned he’s snug leaving blended martial arts after Saturday’s bout. The matchup is a rematch from a July 2018 struggle during which Cormier knocked out Miocic within the first spherical.
“This struggle may be the final struggle,” Cormier mentioned on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Present. “I am going to win the struggle this weekend and see what occurs. The truth is, if I’ve to stroll away from this factor after Saturday, I am OK with it.
“I’ve achieved a lot. My household is happy with the prospects of me being round extra. The opposite aspect appears to be like good, too. However proper now I’ve to be centered for this weekend.”
UFC 241 includes a heavyweight championship rematch and the return of one of the crucial in style stars within the UFC. Daniel Cormier will defend his title in opposition to Stipe Miocic, whereas Nate Diaz fights for the primary time in three years, taking up Anthony Pettis.
UFC 241: Cormier vs. Miocic 2
• Saturday, Anaheim, California
• Early prelims: ESPN+, 6:15 p.m. ET
• Prelims: ESPN, eight p.m. ET
• Fundamental card: ESPN+ PPV, 10 p.m. ET
Order UFC 241 now
Cormier, 40, most just lately defeated Derrick Lewis by second-round submission at UFC 230 final November. He initially deliberate to stroll away from the game by the point of his 40th birthday in March, however determined to proceed on some time longer.
Some consider a part of the reason being he is holding out for a trilogy struggle with Jon Jones, Cormier’s largest rival. They’ve competed twice earlier than. Within the first matchup, at UFC 182 in 2015, Jones gained by unanimous choice. They fought once more at UFC 214 in 2017, and it led to a head-kick knockout by Jones. The end result was later overturned to no contest after Jones examined optimistic for the banned substance turinabol. Cormier was reinstated as gentle heavyweight champion.
Requested a few potential third struggle with Jones, Cormier mentioned, “The ball is in my court docket now. I get to determine whether or not I wish to struggle Jon Jones or I let him proceed to struggle guys like Thiago Santos and Corey Anderson. Finally, for him to make the massive bucks, now we have to struggle one another.”
Cormier added that if this bout have been to occur, it must be gentle heavyweight so he may “make proper what was unsuitable initially.”
Cormier mentioned it’s Jones or no one. “It is solely large fights for me,” he mentioned. “It will be Stipe Miocic and, if I struggle once more, it will be Jones. It isn’t going to be anyone else.”
Jones took to Twitter to reply.
I have been the sunshine heavyweight champion for nearly my whole MMA profession, by no means have I moved as much as problem a heavyweight champion. I am merely not curious about it proper now, by no means critically have been.
– Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) August 12, 2019
I really feel just like the transfer is inevitable however as of proper now, Im dominating fights and making weight simply high quality. Daniels and I not reverie, however beef began on the gentle heavyweight division and that is the place it ought to finish.(regardless that I may’ve sworn I ended this a couple of times already)
– Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) August 12, 2019
Regardless of what he says to the media, I’ll assure you guys there shall be no third struggle. No approach will he lose that weight once more, no approach will he be keen to reface these nightmares that comes when dealing with the beast.
– Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) August 12, 2019
Shevchenko on Cejudo’s problem: ‘Watch out what you would like for’
Henry Cejudo is a UFC champion at each bantamweight and flyweight and — undecided if you recognize this — additionally an Olympic gold medalist. However he isn’t carried out in his pursuit of gold. Cejudo took to social media over the weekend to playfully name out UFC ladies’s flyweight titleholder Valentina Shevchenko for a hypothetical “intergender championship” bout.
The next is a public service announcement for the supposed flyweight queen Valentina Shevchenko. Signed, Triple C and shortly to be The IGC. #bendtheknee @BulletValentina pic.twitter.com/kUQbCnmIWd
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) August 11, 2019
Shevchenko is not opposed.
1:38
Valentina Shevchenko says she isn’t afraid of anybody and would struggle Henry Cejudo within the Octagon.
Waterson utilizing father-in-law as inspiration
UFC strawweight contender Michelle Waterson has arguably the most important struggle of her profession on Oct. 12 in Tampa, Florida, when she takes on former champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk. A win may propel her to a title struggle with both champion Jessica Andrade or Zhang Weili, who compete on the finish of August.Her largest inspiration? Her father-in-law, who was just lately in a automotive accident and initailly advised he would by no means stroll once more.
1:37
Michelle Waterson shares the emotional story of her father-in-law’s automotive accident and the miraculous restoration he continues to make.
Anthony Pettis’ coach thanks Nate Diaz ‘for bringing out the perfect in Showtime’
Anthony Pettis flat-out doesn’t like Nate Diaz. The previous UFC welterweight champion spoke with Ariel Helwani earlier this summer season and didn’t maintain again on why this struggle was essential to him.
“I am unable to wait to harm this man. It is a private struggle for me,” Pettis mentioned. “That is one man I simply do not like. Me and Diaz obtained issues. Now we will clear up them.”
Pettis’ coach, Duke Roufus, joined the present on Monday and described what he referred to as “the perfect coaching camp of our profession.”
1:25
Anthony Pettis’ coach, Duke Roufus, says Pettis has had the perfect coaching camp of his profession forward of combating Nate Diaz.
Costa’s coach is envisioning a championship struggle
Eric Albarracin is aware of a bit of one thing about champions. He coaches Henry Cejudo, the UFC champion at each flyweight and bantamweight. He coaches Patricio “Pitbull” Freire, the Bellator champion at featherweight and light-weight. And he coaches Paulo Costa (12-Zero), whose struggle in opposition to Yoel Romero (13-Three) on Saturday is, to Albarracin, a championship struggle.
“In my eyes, Yoel already gained the world title,” he advised Helwani. “I feel he’s the world champion. I feel he gained that final struggle. You already know, three knockdowns.”
Albarracin is referring to Romero’s June 2018 bout with UFC middleweight champ Robert Whittaker, which Whittaker gained by break up choice. It was not a title bout, although, as a result of Romero missed weight.
“I feel he’s the perfect 185-pounder that Paulo can struggle proper now,” mentioned Albarracin. “I have been treating this like a world title struggle.”
Demetrious Johnson doesn’t want Henry Cejudo trilogy
ONE Championship fighter Demetrious Johnson, arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter ever, defended his UFC flyweight belt 11 consecutive occasions earlier than Henry Cejudo upset the longtime champion in August 2018. The 2 had fought as soon as prior, a first-round TKO win for Johnson in 2016.
With the matchup at one win apiece, will we see a trilogy happen down the street? “Mighty Mouse” is not tremendous .
“I am centered on greater issues,” Johnson mentioned. “Attempting to seize my first-ever World Grand Prix and get a belt. Then go off and win one other belt in a very completely different group.”
Zero:58
Demetrious Johnson tells Ariel Helwani he is not apprehensive a few third struggle vs. Henry Cejudo and is specializing in profitable the ONE Championship Flyweight World Grand Prix.
Darren Until describes jail time in a single phrase: ‘grim’
Former UFC welterweight title challenger Darren Until and a number of other buddies have been arrested and fined in April for trashing a resort room and stealing a taxi within the Canary Islands. Earlier than their day in court docket, they spent 4 days in a jail cell.
What was that have like? We’ll let him clarify.
2:15
Darren Until tells the wild story of when he was jailed for 4 days after fireplace extinguishers have been set off in his resort.