“Right now there isn’t any [animosity], but I’m sure when I see him, things will ramp up a bit. I haven’t really thought about it at all. I’ve been in the UFC for so many years now, so it can’t be anything too different than what I’ve experienced. I’m excited to just take it as it comes… I have those feelings a little more with Gustafsson than I do with Daniel. I already beat [Cormier] by unanimous decision, so I don’t really have this feeling where I have to put him away or get rid of him once and for all. I just need to fight him because he has the belt right now. That’s really what this is all about for me. I feel that way more about Gustafsson. I really need to fight him again just to get rid of all doubt… My goal is to win in a more dominating fashion than last time. A finish would be an absolute cherry on top, but I just want to perform better than I did the first time.”
-Jon Jones talks to MMAJunkie.com about why he’s got more desire to rematch Alexander Gustafsson than UFC 197 opponent Daniel Cormier.
Penick’s Analysis: The fact that Jones beat Cormier clearly while there remained questions for at least some after the Gustafsson fight makes his feelings understandable. That’s even if Gustafsson himself probably isn’t in line for a title shot unless he wins another couple of fights. That said, Jones has readily admitted how he didn’t take Gustafsson as seriously as he should have, and wants that rematch to show that it shouldn’t have been as close as it was. That might eventually come together, but Gustafsson’s got plenty to get done, and Jones has to get Cormier behind him for good next month.
[Photo (c) Jayne Kamin-Oncea via USA Today Sports]
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