Manuwa: Jones will beat Cormier, even if he's rusty
At the top of his game, Jon Jones came out victorious the only time he's stepped inside the Octagon with his great rival, Daniel Cormier.
The two will face off once again at UFC 214 on July 29 in Anaheim, and top light-heavyweight contender Jim Manuwa believes Jones will regain the title he never actually lost, even if he's affected by the 15-month layoff since his last fight due to a suspension.
"I believe Jones wins the fight," Manuwa told Damon Martin of Flocombat.com. "Cormier doesn't win the fight standing up at all. Whether Jon Jones is rusty or not, Cormier doesn't have the skill set to win the fight standing up. His best option is to try and take him down, and he couldn't do that (the first time). Jones has got too much takedown defense and wrestling for Cormier to take him down.
"I think Jones has got his number. I think Jones wins the fight, whether or not he's rusty."
For a time, it appeared Manuwa and Cormier were on a collision course, as the two have traded barbs ever since the current king of the 205-pound division took down Anthony "Rumble" Johnson in April.
But Cormier revealed Monday that he turned down a fight with Manuwa in order to get another crack at taking down Jones once and for all.
Manuwa admitted he was "disappointed" to be pushed aside for the returning Jones, but said he wasn't surprised. And despite his war of words with Cormier, the Brit is ready to take on Jones, whom he believes is the best the UFC has to offer.
"That would be a great fight. I'd love to fight Jon Jones. He's the greatest of all time in the Octagon," Manuwa said. "People say 'Mighty Mouse' (Demetrious Johnson) is pound-for-pound (the best fighter) but I believe it's Jon Jones. He's such a great fighter and I'd love to test my skills against him.
"It doesn't matter what he's done outside. I don't care what he's done outside of the ring except taking performance-enhancing drugs, which I totally don't agree with. His other activities, it is what it is. This is about fighting. It's not about who's the best person, to me anyways. It's about fighting and who's the best fighter without taking drugs."