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Will Daniel Cormier fight for a UFC Championship in 2013? Why or why not?
RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
I'm capable of great spite, and high levels of pettiness. So if I'm in charge of things, I'm looking at it thusly:
- My Heavyweight division, while stronger than it's ever been, is thin compared to every other division in my company.
- Daniel Cormier is a great heavyweight.
- Daniel Cormier is the only premier heavyweight who can join my company and be an instant impact (apologies to Mr. Warmaster)
So if I'm holding the book, Daniel Cormier is fighting exclusively in the heavyweight division. The heavyweight division of the UFC needs Cormier more than the light heavyweight division needs him (at least until Jon Jones moves up).
If Cormier wants a title shot at Cain Velasquez after dispatching of Frank Mir this spring, I grant it to him. If Velasquez refuses, I strip Velasquez and book Cormier vs. Overeem for the title and make Velasquez fight on Facebook for a couple of years.
If Cormier refuses to fight Velasquez, I do the same to Cormier; Facebook his ass for a few years. That should provide ample motivation (and hostility between Cormier and Velasquez) to get this fight booked. And the same holds true for Cormier if he moves down to 205. Like I said, he's more important to the UFC at heavyweight than at light heavyweight, so if he moves down, his esteem in my eyes moves down as well. Enjoy fighting Fabio Maldanado on Fuel seven times in a row, dude.
Now, that said, the question posed before me was whether or not he'll fight for a title; NOT how I would handle it if I were in charge.
Yes. Yes he will. Cormier vs. Jones is coming this fall, assuming he can make the weight cut.
FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
It's possible, but it's dependent on if he gets a fight against Frank Mir. If Cormier fights Mir he'll destroy him. Once that happens I can see the UFC giving him a title shot against Jon Jones at 205. I've had doubts as to whether Cormier can make the cut but he obviously thinks he can so I'll take him at his word for now. I think Jones vs. Cormier could happen at the end of 2013.
ERIC HOBAUGH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
If there is a MMA God who loves the fans, he will. I think it is likely. He will need to get by his first test in Frank Mir. I think he wins that fight in a big way. If he can get by Reem, I see this being the best Christmas gift the UFC can give the fans if they can make that fight. Even if Reem beats Cain, the matchup between Cormier and Reem would be an excellent fight as well. Either fight will be great and sell very well.
ANWAR PEREZ, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
It makes sense for Cormier to fight for a title in the UFC by the end of this year. He's got such hype as he comes into the UFC, that if all he has to do is dispatch whomever his first opponent is (all signs point to Frank Mir) and he gets a championship bout. The top of the heavyweight division truly rests between three fighters (Velasquez, Overeem, and Dos Santos) that will cancel each other out, and make room for Cormier. Oh, and the whole "I won't fight my teammate" will fly out the window if Cormier is given the opportunity to fight for championship against Velasquez.
BRAD WALKER, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
Absolutely he will. And whichever title he fights for, he is going to win. I don't care if it's against Jon Jones, Chael Sonnen, Cain Velasquez or Alistair Overeem - Cormier will beat whoever he is put against in the cage. He weighed in at 230, so making 205 doesn't seem like much of a stretch right now, and I imagine since he and Velasquez are such close friends that we will see Cormier destroy Frank Mir and then make a run at 205 to mangle Jon Jones and make Nike feel downright silly for the money spent on the champ. So, yes he gets the shot and he wins the belt, no "bones" about it.
DAN MOORE, MMATORCH UK CONTRIBUTOR
Yes. I wasn't particularly impressed with his performance on Saturday night; but the UFC has big plans for him. It was a tricky situation for him to be in. He won, but everyone expected him to. No big deal but did we learn anything new about him? No. Had he lost the fight; all the momentum he built up would have been lost in an instant. Depending on the future landscape of the heavyweight division; he probably only needs one, maybe two big wins. If he does, I can see him competing for a title at the very end of 2013.
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Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/roundtables/article_15639.shtml
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