Cormier vs. Jones[edit]
Cormier was expected to face
UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones at
UFC 178 on September 27, 2014, after
Alexander Gustafsson was forced to withdraw due to a torn meniscus.
[34] However, on August 12, Jones was forced to pull out of the bout against Cormier citing an injury. The fight eventually took place at
UFC 182.
[35] At
UFC 182 Cormier was defeated by
Jon Jones by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46).
[36] Despite the loss, Cormier was awarded a
Fight of the Night bonus.
[37]
Light heavyweight championship[edit]
Cormier was expected to face
Ryan Bader on June 6, 2015, at
UFC Fight Night 68.
[38] However, on April 28, 2015, it was announced that
Jon Jones had been stripped of the Light Heavyweight championship and suspended indefinitely after facing felony charges stemming from a traffic accident in
Albuquerque, New Mexico. Subsequently, Cormier was pulled from the Bader fight and replaced Jones against
Anthony Johnson on May 23, 2015, at
UFC 187 for the vacant title.
[39] In the early opening seconds of the fight, Cormier was dropped by an overhand right by Johnson. Cormier would go on to win the next two rounds and eventually submit Johnson by rear naked choke in the third round to become the new UFC Light Heavyweight champion. The last time the championship changed hands was 2011. The fight also earned Cormier a
Performance of the Night bonus.
[40][41]
Cormier faced
Alexander Gustafsson on October 3, 2015, at
UFC 192.
[42] Cormier won the back and forth fight via split decision (47-48, 48-47, 49-46).
[43] Their performance earned both participants
Fight of the Night honors.
[44]
In November 2015, Cormier stated that he has signed a new, eight-fight contract with UFC.
[45]
A rematch with
Jon Jones was expected to take place on April 23, 2016, at
UFC 197.
[46] However, Cormier pulled out of the fight on April 1 citing a foot injury and was replaced by
Ovince Saint Preux.
[47][48] The rematch with Jones was rescheduled for July 9, 2016, at
UFC 200.
[49] On July 6, It was announced that the fight between Jones and Cormier was off due to a potential doping violation from Jon Jones.
[50] Cormier fought former
UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva in a 3 round non title fight at the event. Cormier won the fight via unanimous decision.
[51]
A rematch with
Anthony Johnson was expected to take place on December 10, 2016, at
UFC 206.
[52] However, on November 25, 2016, Cormier withdrew from the bout due to injury.
[53]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Cormier#Cormier_vs._Jones
