Manuwa believes Cormier and Jones are just trying to sell the fight.
One thing is for sure: Jimi Manuwa lets his fists do the talking.
The heavy handed Brit is riding back-to-back knockout victories over Ovince Saint Preux and Corey Anderson, and is currently the No. 3 ranked light heavyweight in the world.
Manuwa is expected to be on standby for the UFC 214 championship bout between Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones, in case one of them pulls out at the last minute, as former champion 'Bones' did at UFC 200.
Manuwa, who was called out by current champ 'DC' in a WWE-inspired rant at UFC 210, is not a fan of trash talk and believes the rivalry between Cormier and Jones is largely manufactured.
Things kicked off between both men at the UFC's 'Summer Kickoff' press conference, with Cormier having to be restrained by security. The two rivals lobbed insults back-and-forth throughout the conference and continued to engage on social media.
Manuwa, 37, believes Cormier and Jones are doing their best to sell the fight.
“They’re trying to sell the fight, but it’s just trash talking—WWE s*it and that,” Manuwa told Jim Edwards of Champions.co. “We all know they don’t like each other, but it is what it is, you know. I don’t buy into any of that trash talking and sh*t. I just let my fighting do the talking—I don’t put up with trash talk and I respect all the athletes.”
“Trust me, if anyone says anything, I always come back with full force and that. That’s why I don’t do any trash talking. I take this seriously, and I know myself and I know what my temper is like. I prefer face-to-face confrontation, so I like to keep calm and let my fighting do the talking—legally.”
'Poster Boy' is not sure who will win the rematch but leans towards Jones, who holds a win over Cormier from 2015.
“I don’t really know—I think it all depends on Jon Jones and what Jon Jones turns up,” Manuwa said. “It depends whether he’s rusty or whether he’s back to his best. We will have to see. I can see Cormier making it a hard night for Jones, but I dunno, it all sits with Jones. He didn’t look too great against OSP, but then again, Jones always has problems with fighters that are the same height as him. I predicted that Jones would have a few problem with OSP.”
Cormier and Jones will collide in a light heavyweight championship rematch at UFC 214, which is expected to take place on July 29 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.