Jon Jones Vs. Daniel Cormier Rematch: Part Two Set For UFC 197 On April 23rd
The rematch between former light heavyweight king Jon Jones and current champion Daniel Cormier has been set.
In a report by Brett Okamoto for ESPN, the said match-up will be scheduled to headline UFC 197 on April 23rd in Las Vegas. The report adds that the co-main event feature of the night would be a flyweight title showdown between champion Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson and Henry Cejudo.
The said match-up would also be the first time Jones would be fighting since he was slapped with an indefinite suspension last April due to a hit-and-run accident he was involved in, in his new hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico. "Bones" was reinstated back to the UFC in October.
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The history between the two fighters has been a deep-rooted one. In August 2014, Jones, who was then the champion, was involved in a media day brawl with his challenger, where the two men ended up shoving each other, with some punches thrown.
However, the fight was forced to be rescheduled after Jones pulled out of the fight due to an injury. The two men then met at UFC 182 in January 2015, where Jones handily won the fight via a wide unanimous decision margin. But while he did enjoy further success, his misdemeanors began piling up.
In December 2014, Jones tested positive for cocaine, a violation of the UFC's code of conduct. While he was not sanctioned for the said incident, it was his hit-and-run incident that led the UFC to slap an indefinite suspension on him, ultimately stripping him of his title.
Jones' absence left a vacancy in the light heavyweight division's top spot, of which Cormier and top contender Anthony "Rumble" Johnson fought for. The two fighters met at UFC 187 in May 2015, where Cormier won via third round submission.
"DC" was then slated to defend his belt against former title challenger Alexander Gustafsson in October of the same year. He was able to successfully defend it via a split decision verdict.
