Dana White details plans for Daniel Cormier if Jon Jones is not ready for UFC 214
Earlier tonight UFC president Dana White went on Sports Center where he announced that if Jon Jones is ready, the promotion is willing to give him an immediate title shot against current light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier at UFC 214 on July 29 in Anaheim, California.
Jon Jones (22-1 MMA) and Daniel Cormier first met at UFC 182 in January of 2015, with “Bones” emerging victorious via unanimous decision.
“Bones” and “DC” were originally slated to rematch at UFC 197 in April of 2016, but Cormier was forced to pullout of the fight after suffering a knee injury.
The bitter rivals were then booked to fight at this past July’s UFC 200 event in Las Vegas. However, unfortunately for fight fans Jones was removed from the card just days before the event after testing positive for banned substances.
“Bones” is currently serving a one-year suspension that was handed down for his aforementioned failed drug test. The suspension comes to an end the first week of July.
If Jon Jones decides that he will not be ready to fight Cormier at UFC 214 on July 29, or if “Bones” opts to take a tune-up fight instead, Dana White told ESPN that the promotion already has a backup plan set for “DC”.
“Cormier is available to fight on July 8, but that timeframe doesn’t work for Jon Jones,” White said. “Cormier already told me he’s willing to fight either Jones or Manuwa.”
The UFC president continued.
“If Jon Jones is ready to fight [by UFC 214] on July 29, we’ll see the Jones versus Cormier rematch, finally.”
Dana White is not sure how this whole situation will play out, but the ball is in Jones’ court.
If Jones does turn down the fight offer for UFC 214 in Anaheim, “The Poster Boy” told Dana White that he would be more than happy to test Cormier’s chin this July.
“Jimi wants Cormier,” White said. “They got into it at UFC 210 [earlier this month] and Jimi told me he’s never been talked to like that before. We’ll see how this plays out.”
Who would you rather see Daniel Cormier fight next, Jon Jones or Jimi Manuwa? Sound off PENN Nation!