White declares Cormier-Jones UFC 214 main event, says Manuwa will be on card

Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones 2 will headline UFC 214 after all.

After Daniel Cormier’s UFC 210 win over Anthony Johnson in April, Dana White repeatedly said “DC” vs. Jon Jones would not headline a card, but instead serve as an evening’s co-main event. He said he couldn’t trust “Bones,” who has fallen out of several high-profile bouts over the years for different reasons.

Just over a month later, Cormier vs. Jones 2 was announced Friday at the Summer Kickoff press conference in Dallas ahead of UFC 211. And hours after the announcement, the UFC president confirmed the 205-pound title fight would indeed headline UFC 214 in July, per FOX Sports’ Andy Nesbitt.

Interestingly, light heavyweight contender Jimi Manuwa will also be on the card, White reportedly said, in case anything happens to either Cormier or Jones.

Dana White told me tonight @dc_mma and @jonjones will be the main event at UFC 214 but @POSTERBOYJM will be on card… just in case.

— Andy Nesbitt (@anezbitt) May 13, 2017

The Cormier-Jones rivalry heated up in 2014 when the two fighters engaged in a brawl at a media event leading up to their scheduled UFC 178 title bout. Then-champ Jones injured his leg and the fight was moved to January 2015’s UFC 182, where Jones defeated the wrestler by unanimous decision.

Jones was stripped of his title that April following a hit-and-run accident, and Cormier later won the vacant belt with a submission of “Rumble.” The rivals were once again matched up for UFC 197 in April 2016, but Cormier pulled out of the bout citing an injury and Jones went on to defeat Ovince Saint Preux for the interim championship, which would be stripped from him only months later.

UFC 200 marked the organization’s next attempt at scheduling the long-awaited rematch, but Jones was removed from the card just days before the landmark event because of a failed drug test. Anderson Silva stepped up on very short notice but lost to Cormier in a three-round non-title fight.

With Jones’ suspension over in early July, he and Cormier are set to square off for the second time at Honda Center in Anaheim on July 29. The title fight will air live on pay-per-view.

Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones 2 will headline UFC 214 after all.

After Daniel Cormier’s UFC 210 win over Anthony Johnson in April, Dana White repeatedly said “DC” vs. Jon Jones would not headline a card, but instead serve as an evening’s co-main event. He said he couldn’t trust “Bones,” who has fallen out of several high-profile bouts over the years for different reasons.

Just over a month later, Cormier vs. Jones 2 was announced Friday at the Summer Kickoff press conference in Dallas ahead of UFC 211. And hours after the announcement, the UFC president confirmed the 205-pound title fight would indeed headline UFC 214 in July, per FOX Sports’ Andy Nesbitt.

Interestingly, light heavyweight contender Jimi Manuwa will also be on the card, White reportedly said, in case anything happens to either Cormier or Jones.

The Cormier-Jones rivalry heated up in 2014 when the two fighters engaged in a brawl at a media event leading up to their scheduled UFC 178 title bout. Then-champ Jones injured his leg and the fight was moved to January 2015’s UFC 182, where Jones defeated the wrestler by unanimous decision.

Jones was stripped of his title that April following a hit-and-run accident, and Cormier later won the vacant belt with a submission of “Rumble.” The rivals were once again matched up for UFC 197 in April 2016, but Cormier pulled out of the bout citing an injury and Jones went on to defeat Ovince Saint Preux for the interim championship, which would be stripped from him only months later.

UFC 200 marked the organization’s next attempt at scheduling the long-awaited rematch, but Jones was removed from the card just days before the landmark event because of a failed drug test. Anderson Silva stepped up on very short notice but lost to Cormier in a three-round non-title fight.

With Jones’ suspension over in early July, he and Cormier are set to square off for the second time at Honda Center in Anaheim on July 29. The title fight will air live on pay-per-view.