Jon Jones looks to successfully defend his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight title for a record-breaking sixth consecutive time when he takes on Alexander Gustafsson this weekend (Sept. 21, 2013) at UFC 165 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Should he walk away from the Air Canada Centre with the strap around his waist, "Bones" will have no shortage of challengers looking to be the man to hand him the first true loss of his mixed martial arts (MMA) career.
Chief among them are Glover Teixeira and Daniel Cormier.
While Teixiera has already been branded the division's No. 1 contender, "DC" could be next in line after the Brazilian bomber once he makes his way down to the 205-pound weight class.
But, if push comes to shove and a title-eliminator fight between the two is needed, Jones say Teixiera beats the former Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix winner. Because despite "DC's" Olympic credentials, he's still just a "decent wrestler" who isn't ready for the highest level of fisticuffs the division has to offer.
"Bones" said as much during a recent interview on UFC Tonight:
"I think that'd be a phenomenal fight. I think Glover will win that fight. Cormier is a pretty decent wrestler, but he's not ready for high level fighting in the light heavyweight division."
Glover earned his way to the top sport with a knockout victory over Ryan Bader at UFC Fight Night 28 earlier this month in Brazil, in a fight that saw the heavy-handed Teixeira rocked for the first time in his Octagon career.
Cormier, meanwhile, will take his undefeated (12-0, 1-0 UFC) record with him to Houston, Texas on Oct. 19, 2013 to take on a potentially beardless Roy Nelson at UFC 166 in what will mark Daniel's last fight in the 265-pound division.
With a win over "Big Country," the former Olympian sets himself up nicely for a straight shot at the light heavyweight title. But if he has to finish another fight to earn his spot, a showdown against Glover is a contest "Bones" wouldn't mind seeing.
How about you?