UFC president Dana White explains why Jon Jones vs. Ovince Saint Preux is for the UFC light heavyweight interim championship.
After it was confirmed Daniel Cormier is injured and out of this month’s title fight with Jon Jones, UFC president Dana White revealed Jones’ new UFC 197 opponent on ESPN’s SportsCenter on Saturday evening: Ovince Saint Preux.
White also confirmed that Jones vs. Saint Preux will still be the five-round main event for the UFC light heavyweight interim championship. Interim titles have always been surrounded by controversy (media and fans don’t always agree with interim titles) but nevertheless, here is White’s explanation on why the fight will have the interim title on the line:
“It will [be for the interim title],” Dana White told ESPN’s SportsCenter. “It will still be the main event. It will be five rounds for the light heavyweight interim title. Jon has never lost his title in the Octagon. He was stripped of his title because of problems outside. We think it’s the right thing to do. It’s not [Jones’] fault Cormier is injured. He will fight for the interim light heavyweight title and then when Cormier comes back, they’ll decide who the real champ is.”
The winner of Jones vs. Saint Preux will face Cormier later this year. DC estimates his recovery time will be four to six weeks, per ESPN’s Brett Okamoto.
UFC 197 takes place live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 23. Flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson defends his belt vs. Henry Cejudo in the co-headliner.