Cormier To Jones: “Take the fight with me, Jon Jones. There’re no tune-up fights in the UFC.”

Los Angeles – On UFC TONIGHT, hosts Kenny Florian and Daniel Cormier interview Jorge Masvidal about his upcoming UFC 211 bout. Plus, Karyn Bryant adds reports.

UFC TONIGHT host Daniel Cormier on if Al Iaquinta deserved a performance bonus last Saturday: “He came back after two years off, and not only did he beat the legend, Diego Sanchez, he smashed him. Who puts Diego out like that? Was he mad he didn’t get the bonus? Of course. They should have given it to him.”

UFC TONIGHT host Kenny Florian on if Jones should take a tune-up fight: “He did not look that good against Ovince Saint Preux after his last layoff. I think he should take a tune-up fight. He fights off of confidence and rhythm. He’s better off taking a tune-up fight. But the bigger question is who would he fight?”

Cormier on if Jon Jones should take a tune-up fight before fighting him for the title: “Take the fight with me, Jon Jones. There’re no tune-up fights in the UFC. Try to get your title back. Come meet your boy DC. Get your money. Let’s give people the show. It’s my rules, I’m the champ now. The guy we saw against Ovince Saint Preux is the new USADA-regulated Jon Jones. Yes, I will beat him up July 29.”

Florian on Georges St-Pierre saying he won’t have ring rust from the long layoff: “I think we’re going to see a new GSP. He’s stayed training the whole time. The time away, mentally, it’s going to give him a fresh perspective. I don’t think it’s going to be a factor.”

Cormier on Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather: “Floyd is the greatest boxer ever. I’m being realistic. Conor McGregor has no chance against Floyd Mayweather.”

Cormier on who had a better championship run, Jones or GSP: “No one has done it at the level of Jon Jones. He beat eight of us, back-to-back. He beat five guys who may go in to the Hall of Fame – Machida, myself, Rampage Jackson, Vitor Belfort and Shogun Rua – all were champions and all in their prime.”

Florian on why GSP had a better championship run: “The welterweight division was considered the toughest division in the sport for years. Georges didn’t lose a round for four years. That’s amazing, considering the consistency and the level of competition he had.”

VIDEO: No Holds Barred: Jones or St-Pierre – who had better championship run?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6uoDneu2nE

Jorge Masvidal on how he’ll stop Demian Maia: “There’s this key ingredient called wrestling. None of the other dudes possess it. Defensive wrestling, I can hold my own against anyone in the division. Just like when I was fighting Cowboy, they thought I was going to be decapitated, and they were sorely mistaken. They’re going to find out just how good my grappling is defensively on May 13.”

Masvidal on if he’s been working on jiu-jitsu: “No jiu-jitsu, just wrestling. The way my game is, I don’t get outwrestled on the mat usually.”

Masvidal on if he’d have a problem fighting fellow ATT team member Tyron Woodley: “No, not on my end or his end. We’re both good friends. He’s shown me a lot in the past. There’s no hard feelings if we have to scrap. I’m here to get the money. I’ve got kids to feed.”

Masvidal on how GSP will look after USADA: “Me personally, I’d rather be safe than sorry. I want to see everybody doing the USADA routine. A lot of guys were looking like super soldiers in the ring. Now a lot of guys, via USADA, they look like they don’t belong in there. The movement, the power, these guys were slamming people for five rounds. Now they have one round in them and are breaking. Big shout out to USADA.”

VIDEO: Interview: Masvidal previews his UFC 211 fight vs. Demian Maia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJp3X_1rSDo

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjV3p6PROUE

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