In wake of Conor McGregor’s dismissal from the UF’s biggest fight card of the year, they have gone all out to make UFC 200 still mean something. Yes, we do not know is Frankie Edgar and Jose Aldo are fighting for the interim or regular UFC title due to McGregor being in limbo and Meisha Tate is fighting a relative unknown to the general audience but Amanda Nunes is still super dangerous. Now, Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones are facing off in their rematch for the unified UFC Light-Heavyweight title.
Daniel Cormier had a chance to win the UFC title against Jones over a year ago, but he was soundly defeated by the longtime champion. Then Jones’ well timed legal troubles had him stripped of the belt and unsure if he would ever return. In the intermediate, Cormier captured the title by stepping in and taking out Anthony Johnson and then went on to retain his title in a defense against Alexander Gustafsson in one of the more entertaining fights last year.
The two were set to face off at this past weekend’s UFC 197, but Cormier suffered an injury on three weeks notice and had to drop out off the fight. Ovince St. Preux stepped in for the chance of a life time, and despite a valiant effort, succumb to Jones via decision. Now, Jones and Cormier are set to unify their titles, since Jones won the interim at UFC 197, in three months time. Jones could have easily dropped out of UFC 197 but did not ant a similar mistake that he suffered at UFC 151. Now, the biggest rematch that will probably ever have happened in the UFC will take place on this card. Will three months be too soon for Cormier to come back? Is three months enough time to work off the ring rust we saw from Jones in his return? Who is more amped for this fight then seeing McGregor being submitted by Nate Diaz for a second time.
No one knows the answer to those first two questions, but everyone is the answer to the third. UFC 200 is finally headlined by a real fight that matter and everyone should want to see.