Daniel “DC” Cormier is the new UFC light heavyweight champion after defeating Anthony “Rumble” Johnson in the UFC 187 main event at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Now, the question is what’s next?
Cormier was in the main event because Jon Jones, who beat Cormier in January, was stripped of his title and suspended indefinitely following a hit-and-run just weeks before fight night that left a pregnant woman with a broken arm. Cormier took advantage of his chance, survived an early knockdown, and submitted Johnson with a rear naked choke.
Now, a rematch with Jones is on every UFC fan’s mind. It’s on Cormier’s too.
“Jon Jones get your s**t together, I’m waiting for you,” Cormier said in his post fight interview.
There is currently no timetable for Jones’ return to the Octagon however, so two men are the clear favorites for Cormier’s first defense—Ryan Bader and Alexander Gustafsson.
The latter is held in higher regard, despite losing more recently. He was in the lead for this UFC 187 date against Jones until he was shocked in Sweden by Johnson who swooped in for the title shot.
Bader has a better case for the first title shot based on his recent performances. He’s won his last four fights and was in line to fight Cormier before Cormier was pulled into the title match. At Cormier’s post-fight presser Bader loudly reminded him of that.
That escalated quickly https://t.co/Y5PtpmiGPk
— Ryan Bader (@ryanbader) May 25, 2015
Jon jones get your shit together????? @dc_mma you need to get your shit together, you have a #1 contender right here waiting for you. — Ryan Bader (@ryanbader) May 24, 2015
.@dc_mma we were scheduled to fight twice and you got out of both, don't let the @ufc bail you out of your first title defense against me.
— Ryan Bader (@ryanbader) May 20, 2015
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