UFC 187: 'Disrespected' Daniel Cormier is not a complete scrub and Anthony Johnson is not Godzilla

Daniel Cormier won the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lottery after he was given another shot at the light heavyweight title when former champion, Jon Jones, was stripped of his belt and suspended for his involvement in a hit-and-run accident in Albuquerque, New Mexico (details).

This second title fight arrives four months after "DC" came up short in his bid to dethrone "Bones" at UFC 182 after five rounds of action.

Recap here.

While he was elated at the news, some scoffed at the idea of giving him another shot at the strap -- even under such unusual circumstances -- not long after losing to the champion. Still, "DC" feels "disrespected" that his doubters are already counting him out of his title fight against "Rumble" at UFC 187, based on his previous loss to Jones.

He expressed his disappointment with that notion during a recent appearance on The MMA Hour (via MMA Fighting):

"I'm walking into a fight with Anthony Johnson and I'm going to get destroyed by him. It makes absolutely no sense to me. You know what, it's a testament to what Anthony has done, but it's also very disrespectful in the fact that I've lost one time ... the last time, when I lost rounds to Jones, was the first time I've lost rounds in a fight. And now this guy that has actually recommitted himself to the sport. This guy that has done things that no one expected him to do is going to just walk through me. That makes no sense. I'm telling you right now, I don't buy it. I don't believe it. "

He continues:

"The truth of the matter is, I won 15 straight fights, got to the top of the sport. I fought for the UFC championship against the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Most guys lose early, most guys lose in the middle, most guys lose, even though it's years before, they have hiccups. I never had that hiccup. I made it to the top of this sport before actually suffering my first loss, to the pound-for-pound No. 1 guy in the world. And somehow I've gone from this guy who, they thought I could beat the No 1 pound-for-pound guy in the world, to a complete scrub."

Of course, Cormier isn't taking anything away from a resurgent Johnson, who earned his way to the top of the division with three straight wins since returning to the Octagon. Still, in "DC's" view, "Rumble" is who he is: a man with holes and weaknesses.

One thing is certain, Johnson is no King Kong or Godzilla.

"I don't think he's overrated, not one bit. I think he deserves the credit he's gotten ... it's not like I'm lying. I'm only stating facts, Rumble Johnson has smashed everyone over course of nine fights. He beat Phil Davis every second of every round, he beat Andrei Arlovski every second of every round, actually Arlovski won a round when he didn't finish him. But when he didn't knock those guys out, he was still cruising. He hasn't really been dealt that adversity he received at welterweight. So for me, it's a matter of seeing how does he deal with adversity now that he's with that monster. People have made him out to be King Kong and Godzilla all at once, and he's not like that."

He may not be as big as those mythical creatures, but he sure does leave wreckage behind like they do.

To check out the latest UFC 187: "Johnson vs. Cormier" fight card and rumors right now click here.