Fighters Only

Issue 131

August 2015

Daniel Cormier won the UFC 205lb title but his legitimacy as the world number one is tainted by Jon Jones’ suspension. we asked two leading light heavyweight contenders...

YES

Ryan Bader

#3 ranked UFC light heavy and ‘DC’s rival

19-4

Everybody in the 205lb division didn’t get together and cast Jon Jones out because he was dominating or anything like that. He put himself in this position. We’re just making the best of what we have. What else can we do? We can’t sign a petition saying, ‘Hey we want Jon Jones back, because this belt doesn’t feel right.’ Our main goal is to fight those fights in front of us, win those fights, and the ultimate goal is to have that belt around your waist. We’re doing what we want, and have been striving to do since we were little kids... Until Jon Jones comes back and that belt holder fights him and beats him, then I’d say he’s the real champ.

NO

Alexander Gustafsson

?#2 ranked UFC light heavy and next title challenger

16-3

It’s a difficult situation. Officially, ‘DC’ is the champion and he’s the best guy in the world right now. But we all know Jon Jones is the best guy out there. I’m happy to be fighting DC for the belt. He’s a beast and all that matters to me is that he has the belt right now, so defeating him is my mission. However, when I beat DC and lift the belt myself, I will only feel like the true champion when I beat Jon Jones. Until then, the championship isn’t real, at least to me anyway. Jon Jones is the fight that I want when he does come back. The best way to get that fight is to be the guy with the belt when he returns. I want that fight more than any other.