Jon Jones on UFC 182 Game Plan: 'I Will Try to Wrestle Daniel Cormier'

Unlike ancient philosopher Sun Tzu, who immortalized the notion of attacking an enemy's weakness, Jon Jones and Greg Jackson believe that besting an opponent in his respective area of expertise represents the easiest path to reaching a breaking point.

So when Jones faces arguably his stiffest test inside the Octagon at UFC 182 on January 3, expect the light-heavyweight champ and pound-for-pound king to test second-ranked Daniel Cormier at his strong suit: wrestling.

During an interview over the weekend with MMAFighting.com's Shaun Al-Shatti, Jones talked about his ability to adapt to his foes' strengths and his plan to go after Cormier's strengths and weaknesses.Jackson, Jones' head trainer and the co-owner of Team Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA in Albuquerque, New Mexico, explained why he agrees that Bones should attempt to out-wrestle Cormier, a two-time former Olympian in freestyle wrestling who was named Team USA's captain for the 2008 Summer Olympics.Since making his debut with Strikeforce in 2009, Cormier has stuffed each of the 11 shots he's faced, including three shots from former two-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestler, Patrick Cummins.

Jones denied the first 16 shots he faced in his brilliant UFC tenure before allowing top-ranked Alexander Gustafsson to tally a takedown at UFC 165 in September 2013. Gustafsson, however, finished just one of his eight takedown attempts in that fight.The unbeaten Cormier has amassed 18 takedowns in his 12 fights since signing with Strikeforce, including three in his last bout against former Olympic Greco-Roman wrestler Dan Henderson.

In his 15 scraps in the UFC, eight of which were light-heavyweight title fights, Jones has totaled 30 takedowns.

Cormier (15-0) improved to 4-0 in the UFC after thrashing former Strikeforce and PRIDE FC champ Henderson at UFC 173 in May. Cormier has piled up a 12-0 record under the Zuffa banner.

Jones (20-1) holds a 14-1 UFC record, with his lone loss coming via disqualification against Matt Hamill in December 2009.


Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2307943-jon-jones-on-ufc-182-game-plan-i-will-try-to-wrestle-daniel-cormier