(Cormier opens a can of whoop ass on Phil Cumens…er…Paul Cummings…let’s just call him “Pete” at UFC 170. Photo via Getty.)
Although the fight was originally being targeted for UFC 175 on 4th of July weekend, Dana White broke the news on Sportscenter earlier today that the light heavyweight #1ish contender match between Daniel Cormier and Dan Henderson has officially been booked as the co-main event of UFC 173: Weidman vs. Belfort vs. Machida Barao vs. Dillashaw, which transpires on May 24th from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The fight will serve as a quick turnaround for Henderson, who was getting his ass handed to him by Mauricio Rua at Fight Night 38 in March before scoring a miracle comeback KO via H-Bomb in the third round of their hotly-anticipated rematch. Cormier, on the other hand, barely broke a sweat in his last fight: a 79-second TKO over Pete Cumpins…Pat Culmings (damn it, so close!) at UFC 170.
Recovery advantage: Cormier. Age, speed, size, and strength advantage: Also Cormier. “You darn kids quit skateboarding on the sidewalks!” advantage: Hendo. Call me crazy, but I’m liking Hendo here.
The full UFC 173 lineup is after the jump.
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
Champ Renan Barao vs. T.J. Dillashaw – for UFC bantamweight title
Daniel Cormier vs. Dan Henderson
Jake Ellenberger vs. Robbie Lawler
Takeya Mizugaki vs. Francisco Rivera
James Krause vs. Jamie Varner
PRELIMINARY CARD (FOX Sports 1, 8 p.m. ET)
Michael Chiesa vs. Francisco Trinaldo
Tony Ferguson vs. Katsunori Kikuno
Chico Camus vs. Chris Holdsworth
Mitch Clarke vs. Al Iaquinta
PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC Fight Pass, 6:30 p.m. ET)
Anthony Njokuani vs. Vinc Pichel
Doo Ho Choi vs. Sam Sicilia
Jingliang Li vs. Danny Mitchell