Former UFC interim and full light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is out after failing an anti-doping test by taking a tainted bootleg erectile dysfunction drug. That left only one fighter for division champion Daniel Cormier – Anthony Johnson.
In their first fight, at UFC 187 on May 23, 2015, Cormier beat Johnson via rear-naked choke, for the belt vacated by Jon Jones’ woefully unfortunate out of contest conduct. Since then Johnson has been on a ferocious tear. He won three straight, all by KO, with each winning Performance of the Night bonus.
Jimi Manuwa lasted 5:28. Ryan Bader made it only to 1:26. And Glover Teixeira fell in just 13 seconds.
The pair were scheduled to rematch at UFC 206 on December 10 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, but Cormier withdrew with an injury. Now the the rematch has been booked for UFC 210: Cormier vs. Johnson 2 on Apr 8, 2017, at KeyBank Center, in Buffalo, New York.
Cormier and Johnson have respect and even admiration for each other, so do not anticipate a lot of trash talk. But do anticipate a great fight.
Chris Weidman vs. Gegard Mousasi will also be on the main event.
