Jones-Cormier rematch headlines UFC 200

MANILA, Philippines – After winning his comeback bout over the weekend, Jon Jones will finally have his rematch against Daniel Cormier in the main event of the UFC 200 pay-per-view card on July 9.

Both men were originally penciled to face each other at UFC 197 on April 23, but Cormier pulled out of the bout due to a foot injury.

With Cormier unavailable to compete, Jones remained on the UFC 197 fight card to square off with short-notice opponent Ovince Saint Preux, whom he outclassed in 5 rounds to take home the interim UFC light heavyweight championship.

Jones and Cormier have long had a heated rivalry, stemming from a full-fledged brawl during the UFC 178 media conference at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in August 2014.

Aside from their altercation in public, both men were recorded exchanging threats and profanities during an off-air segment following an ESPN interview.

Jones easily cruised to a unanimous decision victory against Cormier when the two squared off against each other in January 2015.

Cormier got his hands on the gold-plated strap when he submitted Anthony Johnson for the vacant title in May 2015 as Jones was stripped of the UFC light heavyweight belt and was placed on indefinite suspension due to a hit-and-run incident in April of the same year.

Jones (22-1) has won 13 consecutive matches inside the UFC cage and became the youngest champion in the promotion’s history by disposing Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in March 2011.

In the other corner, Cormier (17-1) successfully defended the light heavyweight strap with a split decision win over Alexander Gustafsson in October 2015.

The title unification encounter between Jones and Cormier replaces the welterweight rematch between UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz.

UFC 200 takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. – Rappler.com