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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Daniel Cormier is fighting Roy Nelson at UFC 166 in Houston this October, and it was reported on Tuesday's UFC Tonight program on Fuel TV that he's planning on trying to get right into a Light Heavyweight Championship fight afterward.
That idea doesn't sit well with former UFC Light Heavyweight Champ and current top contender Lyoto Machida, who said on Thursday that Cormier should have to get in line if he wants that shot.
"I believe there are rankings, and they should be followed," Machida said on a conference call for UFC 163 (transcribed by BleacherReport.com). "There are a lot of guys in line in this weight class waiting in line to fight for a title. I've been waiting in line. There's Glover Teixeira, there's Phil Davis. So, there's a lot of guys in the mix.
"If [Cormier's] going to move down to 205, he's going to need to put a couple of fights in or at least have a significant win in a big fight. I don't think it's right for him to just come in and cut the line. I think he's going to have to show that he deserves that title shot."
Machida's attempting to get back into a title fight of his own, and a win over Phil Davis next week in Brazil might just put him back in line.
Penick's Analysis: Machida's sentiments are surely shared by many in the division, and it makes sense. They've been fighting their way through the field and have proven their worth at 205 lbs., Cormier's been at heavyweight and will only have two fights under him in the UFC. That said, he'd still be a formidable and acceptable challenger for Jon Jones, so if that's the fight the UFC puts together, the rest of the division will just have to deal with it.
[Lyoto Machida art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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