All-In: Jon Jones, Daniel Cormier, and the UFC Have A Lot At Stake At UFC 182

By Raphael Garcia

Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier are set to kick off the UFC’s 2015 as they headline Saturday’s UFC 182 in Las Vegas. After more than two years of anticipation, and an even more intense few months, this bout is finally about to occur. With all that has gone down in the past between these two men, this may be one of the most important fights that the UFC has put on in recent memory. Beyond the title belt at stake, both of these competitors — and the UFC as a whole — have a lot riding on the success of this fight.

First, there is the importance to Jon Jones and his team. Jones is one of the most maligned UFC champions in recent memory. After winning the title back at UFC 128 in 2011, Jones seemed to be an American champion that the promotion could build around. Jones came from a family with multiple professional athletes, so he was expected to understand the importance of public perception when it came to being in the spotlight.

Unfortunately, that was not the case. Jones would find himself in legal trouble just a few weeks after ensuring the promotion and fans that he would never put himself in such a position. And even after his DUI, periodically other situations would arise that would hamper Jones’s image. Everything from the cancellation of UFC 151, his social media posts, the video of him and a woman that isn’t his wife, to the recent verbal sparring session that he and Dan Cormier had while cameras were “off;” all of these moments have added to the mounds of evidence that fans use against him when rooting for his defeat. Looking at the way Jones attempted to present himself, compared to the way things currently are, who can blame them?

Yet this does not take away from the fact that Jones continues to deliver in the cage. Say what they may about his actions outside of cage, when the Octagon door closes, Jones does what he needs to do in order to remain champion of one of the marquee weight classes in MMA. Even though Jones is only 27 years old and has been fighting for less than 10 years, he as an opportunity to be considered among the best ever in this sport.

In a way, a part of his legacy is on the line at UFC 182. Defeating Cormier will have allowed him to get past a man that many have gone on record to say would defeat Jones if they ever squared off. Getting past Cormier (and perhaps a rematch against Alexander Gustafsson) would give Jones the right to claim that he has cleaned out the division. Would he move on to heavyweight or walk away from the sport entirely? No one knows, but the evidence would be sufficient to conclude that he is the best light heavyweight to ever compete.

Across the cage from him will stand Daniel Cormier; an Olympian that knows nothing else but the grind of competition. Since entering the world of MMA in 2009, he’s been on a trek that has led to this very moment. Now, he’s 15-0 and facing a man that is clearly his toughest opponent to this point. But even though Cormier is the challenger heading into this fight, he still has a lot riding on getting the win and taking that title.

If Jones takes this fight via a rout or finish, Cormier would be forced into a purgatory-like position within the 205 weight class. He would have to hope that Jones loses or vacates the belt in order for him to receive another title shot. And going back to heavyweight would not be an option, because even though he was a force in that weight class as well, he stands firm in his position that he will not face friend and teammate Cain Velasquez. At 35 years of age, Cormier is not in a position to wait years before receiving another shot at a title in either weight class. The timing of this fight makes it a “must win” situation for the challenger as well.

What about the UFC? It is clear that the UFC has struggled as an organization of late. Everything from Zuffa being downgraded by Standard and Poor’s, to the continued mess with fighter injuries and the growing disdain for the amount of MMA that is available, it seems that everything continues to pile up against the company. Still, they continue to power forward, and the start of 2015 seems like the foundation for a great year.

In January and February, the organization has put together some potential bouts and cards that will kick the year off strong. Jones vs.Cormier, Silva vs. Diaz, Gustafsson vs. Johnson, Rousey vs. Zingano and Weidman vs. Belfort are all fights that fans can get excited about. All of these fights could easily carry a card and lead to potential fights down the line in 2015.

Jones and Cormier are up first, and this fight has to live up to the billing. If fans walk away from the arena and their television sets disappointed, the backlash will be felt through the cards that follow. Fans have been clamoring to see this fight for months, if not years; the UFC needs these two men to put on a show that leaves the public in awe.

If life is all about timing, the postponement of Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier may be a blessing for the UFC and the fighters. Each entity has something riding on this bout, and whether it is the right to carry a title or building momentum towards future events, this show is built around a main event that has to deliver.