Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Strikeforce champion Daniel Cormier said he would most likely move down to the 205-pound division if his teammate Cain Velasquez defeated Junior Dos Santos for the UFC heavyweight belt. With Velasquesz reclaiming the belt against Dos Santos at last night’s UFC 155, it looks like Cormier might be dropping weight after all.
Cormier, who signed a multi-fight UFC contract over the holiday weekend, will face Dion Staring on Jan. 12 2013 at the last Strikeforce event. A move to light heavyweight may seem like a risk for Cormier. After all he is 10-0 in heavyweight and has beaten greats like Josh Barnett, Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva and Jeff Monson.
For Cormier, moving to light heavyweight would mean he might have to start all over again, or he would if UFC President Dana White had not said that Cormier may get a crack at UFC Light Heavyweight champion Jon Jones in the future.
“[Cormier] is going to bring a lot of excitement to the heavyweight or light heavyweight division. And he could be next in line to fight (Jon) Jones.”
Jones is expected to face former middleweight title contender Chael Sonnen in April 2013. While White was did not say that Cormier would get a title match if Sonnen won the title, but I think Cormier would be more than qualified for a shot at the light heavyweight title whether it is Jones or Sonnen who is the champion by April.
Both Jones and Sonnen have a great wrestling background, which I’ve said before would be a great test against Cormier, whose own experience is decorated with championships and two stints on the United States Olympic wrestling team.
Now Cormier has not officially announced that he was dropping in weight, but both he and Velasquez have dismissed the idea of fighting each other. White said he would not force the two teammates to fight each other and respects the direction Cormier takes in his career.
If Cormier’s goal is to win a championship, he should focus on the light heavyweights after his fight with Staring.
Would you rather see Cormier stay in heavyweight or drop down to light heavyweight? Answer with a comment below or send a tweet to @alstover with the hashtag #RantMMA.
