While Team Jones goes silent, Cormier would delay knee surgery for title fight
UFC light-heavyweight No. 2 contender Daniel Cormier says he would be willing to delay any possible procedures necessary to fix his ailing knee if the promotion were to offer him a championship fight with Jon Jones or even an interim title fight with Alexander Gustafsson.
Cormier made the comments to UFC Tonight's Ariel Helwani on Wednesday.
The Louisianan's preference is to hold off any fight until at least a month after the scheduled UFC 177 date of Aug. 30, however, so he can rehabilitate before competing.
But he was adamant that the only way he'd make the early date was if some gold was on the line.
The undefeated Cormier (15-0) originally injured his knee about 10 days before choking out Dan Henderson at UFC 173 on May 24.
Meanwhile, No. 1 contender Gustafsson has also drawn his own line in the sand.
His manager Manos Terzitane told Helwani that Gustafsson would fight Cormier only if an interim title was on the line. To put it bluntly, no belt, no fight.
Gustafsson (16-2) last competed in March, stopping Jimi Manuwa on strikes.
So it seems like everyone has their position.
Jones wants Cormier. Cormier is only available if gold is up for grabs, and Gustafsson is not fighting Cormier unless an interim crown is at stake.
Of course, all of this could change quickly, as Jones is set to personally meet with UFC brass on Thursday, and his team has declined to publicly comment until after they depart Vegas.
