interim title fight

Daniel Cormier would be ‘bothered’ if Gustafsson offered interim title fight

If Gustafsson were granted an interim title bout, Daniel Cormier would object

Light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier’s legacy is not up for debate or questioning. Bruce Buffer would attest to that whole-heartedly. Still with the reigning champion looking to add to his accolades with a super fight against Stipe Miocic, there are still parts of his story he can’t write out.

So, of course, some of the first questions would relate to the latest interactions between Cormier and Jon Jones. Cormier seemed to stay positive about them and not let that be the focus of this Media Conference Call. Rather, he spoke very highly of Miocic, praising the fighter for the bout.

Conference call

During today’s Media Conference Call for UFC 226, Cormier and Miocic fielded questions for a solid half-hour. One thing was made abundantly clear: Cormier would be annoyed if, contender, Alexander Gustafsson were offered an interim title shot. Also, stop reporting on it (I listen oh so well).

“It would bother me because Alexander Gustafsson does not deserve to fight for an interim title,” Cormier said, quite matter-of-factly.

“I fought for a belt just at the beginning of the year and went up to chase something so much bigger. So, no he doesn’t deserve an interim title he fought last May against Glover Texiera and he beat Jan Blachowicz … well that’s two years ago, he fought twice in two years,” he continued.

So why would Cormier, a man who spends his fair share of time infant of a television camera, be so adamant about not reporting on interim title fights? Possibly because it doesn’t make sense to him.

“I think all this interim title shit gets started because you guys ask about interim titles,” Cormier exclaimed.

“Someone actually put it in the air. Don’t put that shit in the air, man.”

Cormier and Miocic put their belts on the line as the main event for UFC 226 Saturday, July 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Ryan Sprague