Daniel Cormier signed on for a heavyweight fight with Roy Nelson, but it’ll probably be the last time you see him in the 265-pound division for a while.
The Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix winner will face Nelson at UFC 166 in the co-main event, but he’ll look for a shot at light heavyweight champ Jon Jones soon after.
The fighter said on Tuesday’s edition of “UFC Tonight” that he wants to “cut the line” for a chance at Jones if he gets through Nelson.
“(If) I win that’ll be 13 in a row,” Cormier told a fan on Twitter, telling another, “I’m hoping my body of work speaks for itself.”
Cormier’s desire to fight Jones was first made public after his last Strikeforce fight, where he said he would beat Frank Mir then take on the 205-pound title holder, Jones. “D.C.” eventually beat Mir at UFC on Fox 7, and now Nelson stands as the final step before dropping weight to compete at 205 pounds.
Cormier has publicly said in the past that he wants to see if dropping to light heavyweight is possible, given his size and frame. However, it appears that there are no longer issues with cutting the weight necessary to drop a weight class.
“I’m sure I can now,” he said, answering a fan who questioned whether or not he can cut weight.
UFC 166
Velasquez vs. dos Santos 3
October 19, 2013
Toyota Center
Houston, Texas
Cain Velasquez (12-1) vs. Junior dos Santos (16-2)
Daniel Cormier (12-0) vs. Roy Nelson (19-8)
Nate Marquardt (32-12-2) vs. Hector Lombard (32-4-1)
Luke Rockhold (10-2) vs. Tim Boetsch (16-6)
Diego Sanchez (24-5) vs. Gilbert Melendez (21-3)
Tony Ferguson (13-3) vs. Mike Rio (9-2)
Gabriel Gonzaga (15-7) vs. Shawn Jordan (15-4)