UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones (20-1) has pulled out of facing Daniel Cormier (15-0) in the main event of UFC 178 in Las Vegas on Sept. 27. The 27-year-old has reportedly suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee, as well as a sprained ankle according to MMAFighting.com who referred to an unnamed source. The fight has since been rescheduled for UFC 182 on Jan. 3, 2015 and will remain in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
“It’s very disappointing,” Cormier, 35, told MMAFighting.com. “I started to train very hard. It’s a little discouraging, but now I have time to get completely healthy. I don’t know how hurt Jon is but we have to remember that I took this fight with a pre-existing (knee) injury. I could have fought through it, I just wish he would have done the same.”
In what rapidly became one of the most highly anticipated fights of the year, Cormier stepped in to replace no.1 contender Alexander Gustafsson who himself was forced out of a rematch with Jones due to injury. A two-time US Olympic wrestler and Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix winner, Cormier has defeated a number of the UFC’s most well established heavyweights including Antonio Silva, Josh Barnett, Frank Mir, and Roy Nelson before making the drop to light-heavyweight due to team-mate Cain Velasquez occupying the UFC heavyweight crown. ‘D.C’ most recently defeated Dan Henderson on May 24 with a daunting performance that saw the iconic ‘Hendo’ ragdolled and rendered unconscious with a a Rear-Naked-Choke submission.
Regarded as the best ‘pound-for-pound’ fighter in the sport, Jones defeated Glover Teixeira at UFC 172 on April 26 for what was his seventh successful title defense.
