The rematch to the 2013 Fight of the Year is in jeopardy. UFC president Dana White yesterday told UFC.com that light heavyweight champion Jon Jones doesn’t want to fight Alexander Gustafsson in his next fight. Instead, the champ wants to fight Daniel Cormier, and “Bones” and the UFC are meeting this week to talk all about it. “Just to clear up a couple things, people think we’re in contract negotiations with Jon Jones – we’re not. Jon Jones still has five fights left on his contract,” White told UFC.com. “So what we’re doing right now is trying to get him to sign the bout agreement for Gustafsson. He doesn’t want to fight Gustafsson. … Lorenzo (Fertitta) and I have a meeting with Jones on Thursday to get him to sign the bout agreement, and he’s asking to fight Cormier instead.” Although White says that the promotion will push for Gustafsson vs. Jones II, it’s possible they will have to acquiesce to Jones’ demands to keep him happy as he’s one of the company’s biggest stars and pay-per-view draws. Plus, Jones vs. DC is a huge fight in its own right, and it’s a fight that many fans want to see. The problem is, Gustafsson has earned his rematch with Jones by doing everything the promotion has asked of him since the pair’s first fight last September at UFC 165, a fight that Jones won via close decision. Many fans and media called for an immediate rematch, but the UFC asked Gustafsson to fight Jimi Manuwa first to earn his rematch as Jones wanted to fight Glover Teixeira instead. Gustafsson knocked out Manuwa at UFC Fight Night 37 and Jones ended up beating Teixeira via decision at UFC 172, and the promotion said that fight was next. But with Cormier beating up Dan Henderson to a pulp at UFC 173 just two weeks ago, his win is more recent in the minds of many and Jones, apparently, wants DC to be his next challenge instead of Gustafsson. Some will say Jones is ducking Gustafsson, and it definitely seems like that could be the case. However, what people are forgetting is that Cormier is just as difficult a matchup for the champ and so either way, Jones is going to have to fight a top-three talent. And the other thing people are forgetting is that he already beat Gustafsson, whereas Cormier is a fresh challenge, and we all know Jones performs at his best when he’s challenged. Having said that, I personally believe Gustafsson has earned his rematch and think that should be the next fight. But if it’s DC vs. Jones instead, I’ll watch it too. Either way, the fans are in a no-lose situation, it’s just really Gustafsson who is.
