With Conor McGregor Out, Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones Rematch Heads UFC 200
With all the fervor surrounding the removal of Conor McGregor from the UFC 200 fight card, the UFC needed to go big to replace the Irishman's rematch with Nate Diaz as the UFC 200 headliner. And that's just what they did.
Dana White and a bevy of UFC fighters took over Good Morning America on Wednesday to announce that the long-awaited rematch between Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones would now headline UFC 200, the promotion's centerpiece for 2016. UFC 200: Cormier vs. Jones 2 is slated for July 9 at the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
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Cormier and Jones first fought at UFC 182 in January of 2015. Jones dominated the fight en route to a unanimous-decision victory. They were expected to rematch at UFC 187 in May, but a felony hit-and-run incident in Albuquerque, N.M., left Jones in legal trouble and led the UFC to suspending Jones and stripping him of his belt.
During Jones' time away from the Octagon, Cormier went on to win the vacant light heavyweight strap in a bout with Anthony Johnson and then defended it against Alexander Gustafsson.
Upon Jones' return, the UFC matched him up with Cormier, which was slated to be the UFC 197 headliner, but Cormier had to pull out of the fight due to injury. With Cormier sidelined, Jones went on to defeat Ovince Saint Preux for the interim version of the UFC light heavyweight championship.
When they meet in the UFC 200 main event, Cormier and Jones will not only rematch, they will also unify their light heavyweight titles.
Aside from Cormier vs. Jones 2, UFC 200 also features two more title fights. Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar will also be rematching in a battle for the interim UFC featherweight championship, while champion McGregor sorts out his power struggle with UFC brass. Women's bantamweight champion Miesha Tate will put her newly minted belt on the line for the first time, as she defends against Amanda Nunes.
Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier's Controversial Media Day Brawl
