There's no longer any mystery surrounding Jon Jones' delay in signing a bout agreement to fight Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 177. UFC president Dana White said Jones hasn't signed because he wants Daniel Cormier instead, and the light heavyweight champion confirmed it himself via YouTube in response to critics.
In a short clip Jones laughed at people who think he is afraid of Gustafsson. "Asking for an undefeated Olympic wrestler and Strikeforce champion somehow makes me a coward? How about the fact that I beat Gustafsson already whether you guys like how close it was or not? It's my career, not yours."
Does Jon Jones have a personal grudge against Gustafsson?
Gustafsson doesn't buy it, however and took to Facebook to voice his displeasure. "Jon 'Bones' Jones, be a man, be a champ and sign that bout agreement and stop running," Gustafsson wrote. "Keep in mind that after I beat you and become the champ I might be doing the same to you when you chase me for a rematch, as a revenge for not accepting my challenge."
Cormier has been pining for a shot at Jones' title, but has recently seemed content to wait his turn behind Gustafsson. In an interview with Yahoo! Sports, Cormier took a potshot at the champ and insinuated that he is in fact ducking Gustafsson.
"He had to reach so deep into his soul to win that last fight, I truly believe he doesn't want to fight Alex again," Cormier said. "Alex took him somewhere he'd never been before and he doesn't want to go there ever again."
Cormier hopes to beat Jones for light heavyweight title, not anyone else
Cormier later clarified that the concept of "ducking" Gustafsson doesn't mean he fears him. Cormier also believes that not fighting Gustafsson will damage Jones' reputation.
"Everybody was screaming for the rematch after that fight with Alex and he said no, that he wanted to fight Glover," Cormier said.
"Now, if he comes back and says essentially, 'I don't want this rematch,' how do you think that's going to come across? Once? OK. He said he wanted to fight Glover and everyone knows about Glover. But twice would be hard to understand. I honestly don't think Jon is afraid, but Alex pushed him to a point in that fight where I don't think he ever wants to go again."
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