Jimi Manuwa gives rather one-sided prediction for Jon ones vs. Daniel Cormier

Saturday night, in the main event of UFC 214, former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones will step into the Octagon with light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier for a highly anticipated rematch several years in the making.

Ahead of the fight, the MMA community is torn in regards to their predictions for the fight. While some believe that Daniel Cormier remaining active and defending his belt in Jon Jones’ absence will aid him in picking up a win, others believe that Jones will reclaim the light heavyweight title, and cement his place as the undisputed greatest 205 pounder of all time.

Jimi Manuwa, who is also fighting on the card, spoke to BloodyElbow to discuss the fight, and give a rather one-sided prediction:

It’s all about fighting, it’s not a personality contest. It’s not about seeing who’s got the best morals or whatever. Obviously, as a champion in the public eye, you’ve got to keep a certain standard of integrity, but ultimately, it all comes back to fighting.

I believe Jones can beat Cormier eight out of ten times—even ten out of ten times. I think Jon Jones has got his number, he really has. The only way Cormier can beat Jones is to take him down and grind him. He’s not going to knock him out because he’s unable to strike with him because Jones is too good a striker and too good at using his length and range.

Cormier is not a striker, he’s a messy stand-up fighter. He has to close the distance and try to take him down, but he couldn’t do it in the first fight, and I don’t believe he can do it now. Cormier hasn’t knocked someone out in—I can’t even remember the last time he knocked someone out.”

Jimi Manuwa of course, could very well find himself in the title mix with a win on Saturday, as he could potentially become the light heavyweight #1 contender with a win over Volkan Oezdemir.

on 7/28/2017.