With his eye on the belt, Phil Davis provokes Jon Jones and steals the show at a conference

P. Davis (photo) is currently fourth in the light heavyweight rankings. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC

Every UFC champion already knows that, naturally, he is a priority target for the athletes who make up his weight division. When you are also number one pound for pound this condition becomes even more evident. And that's exactly what the light heavyweight belt holder felt. Jon Jones at the UFC 172 press conference, this Monday (21). Even without being your opponent in the event, Phil Davis, which faces Anthony Johnson that night, he decided to provoke Jones and ended up stealing the show at a telephone press conference.

“I honestly don’t know how Alex (Gustafsson) lost that fight. Jon Jones He didn't know what hit him, or why it hit him. He reacted in the fourth and fifth rounds. But did he do enough to win? I don’t think so,” he snapped, “Mr. Wonderful.” Then, after Jones answered a question about Glover Teixeira, his opponent next Saturday (26), Davis couldn't contain himself and countered the champion's comment with irony. “The last time you tried to exchange stronger blows with someone, Alex hit you in the right eye so many times that you looked like a pirate. Glover is a heavy hitter. I want to see what you’re going to do,” he concluded.

When talking about UFC 165, Phil Davis finally got the attention of Jon Jones, who until then had remained oblivious to the provocations. The champion did not spare his rival in his response. “I think Phil will feel ashamed of these antics. But that's what he decided to do today. I am the champion and I will always fight like one. At first, I found this conversation funny. But I'm not going to sit here and feed it. It's nonsense. I'm going to fight Glover, and he's going to fight Johnson. I need to stay focused on Glover, which is a big challenge for me”, said the champion. “I just think when you say shit like that, you put pressure on yourself. Imagine if you say all that rubbish to me, and then end up getting knocked out by a high kick from Antony Johnson, it won't be cool. So I'm going to keep my mouth shut and stay focused. It’s to fight Glover that I’m here,” he added.

Next Saturday (26), in Baltimore (USA), Jon Jones puts his belt on the line for the seventh time against the Brazilian Glover Teixeira, undefeated since 2005 in MMA. The fight is the main fight of UFC 172. In the co-main fight of the night, Anthony Johnson return to Ultimate against Phil Davis. Currently fourth in the light heavyweight division, Davis has a very consistent record, with 12 wins, one loss and one unsuccessful fight. Despite this, the fighter was questioned by president Dana White for his bureaucratic style and for not imposing himself in search of a title shot. In this regard, Phil promised a change in behavior. “Look, if that’s what White said, I’m not going to argue. If he wants me to text him on his phone all the time, that's fine. On Saturday I will do whatever is necessary, and then I will ask for a reckoning with the champion. That’s all,” he said.