Cormier reveals that Cain Velasquez has been imitating Jon Jones in training

D. Cormier (photo) spoke to UFC about his fight against Jones. Photo: Reproduction/YouTube

As soon as he was announced as a replacement for Alexander Gustafson in the light heavyweight title fight against Jon Jones, Daniel Cormier has already started his training with a view to fighting at UFC 181. The challenger revealed that the heavyweight champion Cain Velazquez, his training partner on the AKA team, has already helped with his specific preparation for the challenge, including simulating Jones' movements.

“Cain and I talked at the gym and today he started doing sparring as if it were the Jon Jones. And I was like, 'Cain, what is this?' He was trying those side kicks to the knee, like he was preparing me for those things. But, you know, we have time. We're going to start working on this thing, but I'm confident, very confident. Everyone around here is very confident,” said Cormier, in an interview with the official UFC website.

Cormier also stated that despite the contribution of his teammates, his preparation for the title fight has been going on for years. “All I do each day is prepare for my fight against Jon Jones. No matter when it would happen. I imagined it would be in January or February of next year, after his victory over Gustafsson – because I believed he would win the rematch. But (our fight) will be sooner now. But again: I've been training for this fight for two years. This is nothing new, I don't need to start preparing for the Jon Jones”He concluded.

On September 27th, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, in Las Vegas (USA), the undefeated Daniel Cormier challenges the light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. The fight is the main event of UFC 178. The fight night also marks the return after a series of injuries for the former bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, almost three years after his last appearance in the octagon. Furthermore, the Brazilian Amanda nunes faces the North American Zingano cat on card.