The show must go on.
This has been the commonly used phrase in the last 24 hours, since Jon Jones was stripped of his UFC title and suspended indefinitely. The shocking announcement was made by the UFC on Tuesday, a day after Jones was arrested on a felony charge for a hit-and-run.
In the wake of the suspension, Daniel Cormier was offered a golden opportunity to step in for Jones and fight Anthony “Rumble” Johnson for the vacant light heavyweight title at UFC 187. The decision to take the fight was bittersweet for Cormier, a recent adversary of Jones.
Despite his past drama with Jones, including a media brawl in the MGM Grand lobby, Cormier admitted it was disappointing to see Jones’ title run end this way. During an appearance on Fox Sports’ UFC Tonight, he implored the former champ to “get it together” for the fans that look up to him and want to see him succeed:
More than anything, I think all the stuff that Jon gets into is disappointing. This is a guy that has the world at his fingertips, and he can’t seem to get out of his own way. ...
Just get it together. Get it together, man. There are a lot of people that look up to you and a lot of people that actually want to see [you] succeed. ... Also, you know, I’ll be waiting on the other side with my championship, and he can actually challenge me for it.
Jones, who was widely recognized as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, was only two victories away from tying Anderson Silva’s record for most consecutive title defenses in UFC history. There is no arguing the fact that he is the greatest light heavyweight ever in MMA.
One could even make the case that he’s the greatest fighter of all time, period. Cormier is a realist, and he knows Jones’ tumble from grace is the only reason a new champion is being crowned at UFC 187.
But at the end of the day, we’re all responsible for the choices we make. Jones may be the best light heavyweight in the world, but he no longer represents that coveted spot because of poor life choices, according to Cormier.
I’m a realist. Jon was the champion, and he beat himself. Nobody beat him. I didn’t get the job done on January 3. Jon Jones beat me. But opportunity presents itself, and you have to step up. ... Jon did this to himself. The belt is not his anymore. So, yeah, it is the real championship.
There currently isn’t a timetable for Jones’ return. Appearing on Fox Sports Live, UFC President Dana White admitted even he was unsure of what the future held for the former champ.
Cormier was the logical option as a replacement, given his top-tier status in the division, and he was already in the gym preparing for his previously scheduled fight with Ryan Bader on June 6 at UFC Fight Night 68.
UFC 187 will take place on May 23 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The card will also feature a middleweight title fight between Chris Weidman and Vitor Belfort.
Jordy McElroy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He also is the MMA writer for FanRag Sports and co-founder of The MMA Bros.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com
No comments:
Post a Comment