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Lyoto Machida passed, Mauricio Rua needed more time, so "old school" Vitor Belfort accepted the challenge.
Of course, I'm talking about the declines from two of the top light heavyweight fighters, and former champions, who chose to pass on the possibility to exact revenge on current 205-pound champion, Jon Jones, the man who defeated them both back in 2011.
It's understandable, though, seeing as how both men want to be at their best should the rematch present itself again.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) officials then tabbed middleweight contender and long-time veteran, Belfort, as the next challenger for Bones' title, after Jon himself chose to pass on a last-minute replacement fight against Chael Sonnen at UFC 151.
So what if Belfort would have also turned down the fight? Who then would step up to the plate?
Daniel Cormier, of course.
The Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix winner says if the two Brazilian strikers want to "step aside," he would have gladly taken the bout against Jones.
BJPenn.com has the word after the jump:
"Right now no one wants to fight Jon Jones, but shit I'll do it, I'll fight Jon Jones. Guys are turning down the fight; you have to go to an old school fighter like Vitor Belfort to step up to the plate. That's no knock on Machida or Shogun, but if those guys want to coach on The Ultimate Fighter and move off to the side and let me fight Jones, I'll do it. If no one wants the title shot then give it to Daniel!"
This isn't the first time Cormier has expressed interest in a fight with Jones. He recently stated that a bout between he and "Bones" would be "crazy" and he would definitly be "putting him on his back."
"DC" currently competes in the heavyweight division and will look to make the jump over to the UFC after he takes on Frank Mir this fall in his final fight under his current Strikeforce contract. With a win, the undefeated (10-0) champion would become an instant title contender, but don't expect him to face Cain Velasquez should "Brown Pride" best Junior dos Santos at UFC 155.
Cormier and Velasquez have stated in the past they would not fight each other because of their close friendship and ties to American Kickboxing Academy (AKA).
Bummer.
Should Velasquez reclaim his strap from "Cigano," a drop down to 205-pounds to avoid the collision isn't too far-fetched for Cormier, though the weight cut process will be tricky, given his past troubles making the weight.
Despite the offer, a Jones vs. Cormier bout will be a ways away and too many things have to go right. Should the stars not align, you'd still have to think a bout between the former Olympian and current 205-pound kingpin would be one UFC matchmakers would be salivating at the mouth to make.
Does that potential matchup float your boat?
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