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Cormier to hunt Jon Jones if Velasquez beats Dos Santos

ESPN staff
July 19, 2012
Daniel Cormier may move to 205lbs © Getty Images
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In the event former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez regains his title, Strikeforce 2011 Grand Prix winner Daniel Cormier told ESPN.com that he will consider a move to light-heavyweight.

Cormier and Velasquez are close friends and team-mates at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, and Cormier has no desire to fight him.

But aside from not wanting to fight his friend, Cormier is excited by the possibility of facing UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones.

"I'm not saying that's what I want to do right now," Cormier told ESPN.com. "A lot depends on what happens between Cain and (current UFC heavyweight champion) Junior Dos Santos. "

Dropping to 205 pounds "is a potential plan B if Cain becomes champion again, which I think he will," Cormier said. "Imagine that: Me and Jones standing across the cage from one another. That would be crazy because you know I'm putting him on his back."

Velasquez is in line to face Dos Santos. They were slated to meet September 22 at UFC 152 in Toronto, but the bout was pulled off that card. Dos Santos defeated Velasquez by first-round knockout on November 12, 2011, to become UFC heavyweight champion.

UFC has not yet rescheduled a date for dos Santos-Velasquez II.

Cormier will fight once more for Strikeforce on September 29 in Sacramento, against an opponent to be named. Afterward, he will begin competing in the UFC. While the relationship with Velasquez will play a huge part in determining his future heavyweight plans, Cormier isn't completely ruling out possibly facing his friend inside the Octagon one day.

"I don't want to fight Cain Velasquez," Cormier said. "He's helped me so much to become a mixed martial artist. When I started, the dude opened himself up to me and showed me so much. He didn't have to do that for me. [Fighting each other is] something we will all sit down and discuss as a team, as a management company, as coaches and try to figure something out.

"As I've said time and time again, if Cain is champion, in my heart of hearts, I know I don't want to fight that guy. Then I will go fight Jon Jones. I will fight Jon Jones if I have to."

This article first appeared on ESPN.com

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