Cormier, Manuwa agree to lock horns during heated Twitter battle
Daniel Cormier and Jimi Manuwa's mutual disdain grows stronger by the day.
Since he and Manuwa had some pointed words following his successful defense of the light heavyweight title at UFC 210, the pair have taken their steadily brewing beef to the Twitterverse, with "Poster Boy" initiating the exchange this time.
"DC" had initially dismissed Manuwa as a legit threat to his throne, but when the KO artist challenged him to a duel on Monday, the champ promised to give him the business and keep him from making it to the second-round horn, a barb that kicked off a lengthy exchange:
@dc_mma take the fight Daniel.
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) April 17, 2017
I did. I'll smash u any day bum! U will get embarrassed. U and I both know it. Now u get what u asked for. U won't last a round. https://t.co/0YqPfOvhtj
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) April 17, 2017
After all that barking @dc_mma trying to duck the fight?
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) April 17, 2017
Have u lost ur mind. I was working last weekend. But immediately said yes jimi can get it. Ur a bum! U won't see the 2nd round https://t.co/dOXjPuyNn5
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) April 17, 2017
@PeeDiddy75 @MMA_Addict_ @dc_mma He has to think twice!!
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) April 17, 2017
The cyber war of words elicited a bold proposition from Cormier, who offered to ditch his Olympic-level wrestling and take Manuwa on at his own forte before rubbing his brutal KO loss to Anthony Johnson in his face:
Wow I get on here and ur yapping ur mouth this morning. Let's make a deal. No wrestling , no kicking. I'll beat u str8 boxing chump! https://t.co/UtMbfEwJc2
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) April 17, 2017
Maybe I'll do this to you jimi. Good morning haha pic.twitter.com/KKt3anRHIz
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) April 17, 2017
The Brit appeared unmoved by the low blow, accusing Cormier of chasing a rematch with longtime rival Jon Jones in retort, but the champ shot the theory down and capped his rebuttal by calling for a bout agreement:
@dc_mma Sign the deal CHAMP !!!! stop all your commentator WWE shit. U trying to catch jones rusty. I give u 2 rounds with that big head.
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) April 17, 2017
I'm not trying to catch anything. Let's go! I wanna fight you! Jones needs to get his sea legs back. Where's the contract. This light work https://t.co/GIiBKUTCmN
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) April 17, 2017
Whether a deal for the pair of light heavyweights to meet in the Octagon is actually in the works remains to be seen, but the division's long thin title picture has gotten far more intriguing in short order.