The UFC has decided to go ahead with plans to have light heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier face the returning Jon Jones at the end of July.
It sounds like everything is falling into place for a Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones rematch at UFC 214 on July 29 in Anaheim, California.
Earlier this week, light heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier made it clear on social media that he was willing to face either Jones or UK knockout artist Jimi Manuwa next. That left the ball in Jon’s court, with some wondering whether “Bones” would request a tune up fight after only making it into the Octagon twice over a three year stretch.
But according to Ariel Helwani at MMA Fighting, multiple sources have the UFC moving forward with plans to have Cormier and Jones fight again at the end of July. The two fought previously at UFC 182 in January of 2015, with then-champion Jones taking a hard fought decision over Cormier. Two months later, Jon was involved in a hit-and-run incident that nearly landed him in prison. The UFC stripped him of his belt and suspending him indefinitely while he worked on a deal with the courts.
Daniel Cormier won the vacant 205 pound title at UFC 187 by choking out Anthony Johnson (a feat he would repeat at UFC 210 two weeks ago) and followed that up by beating Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 192. At this point Jon’s legal troubles were cleared up and the UFC announced he would get a chance to win his light heavyweight title back from Cormier at UFC 200. But a failed drug test from Jones over sketchy off-brand dick pills killed the fight mere days before the card.
The incident would cement Jon’s reputation as a GOAT of shooting himself in the foot, to the point where Dana White is still insisting Jones won’t be headlining any UFC cards until he proves he’s got his act together. Whether he follows through on this threat for UFC 214 remains to be seen, probably just one of the details keeping this fight from being 100% signed sealed and delivered.
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