It’s official, Jon Jones vs Daniel Cormier 2 will headline UFC 200. But is this rematch a reasonable replacement for the one that should and could have been?
Conor McGregor, undoubtedly the biggest draw in the sport today and arguably of all time, was scheduled to avenge his loss to Nate Diaz in the main event on July 9. Those plans began crashing down last week when the Irishman refused to leave his training camp in Iceland and travel to Las Vegas to carry out media obligations. What ensued was a whirlwind of chaos through misinformation.
We may never truly know what happened between McGregor and his employers but following today’s announcement what we do know is that “The Notorious” will play no part in the event which the UFC hope to be their biggest ever.
While fans are bitterly disappointed at the news they should be satisfied in equal measure.
Jon Jones vs Daniel Cormier 2 is certainly a massive fight and one that will captivate fans. The two men set about embarking on the greatest rivalry of a generation around two years ago in the run up to their first fight in January 2015 at UFC 182. The infamous altercations between “Bones” and “DC” before that showdown were packed with profanity and animosity, with the highlight being a brawl in front of the fans and cameras in the lobby of the MGM Grand.
Although ultimately Jones retained his belt in convincing fashion, the fight was entertaining and left fans calling for an immediate rematch. We would have got it if it weren’t for the lengthy and unsettling legal deliberations that the youngest ever UFC champion found himself in following his eighth title defence.
Jones has now returned to the octagon and judging by the reaction of the fans in the run up to last weekend’s UFC 197, those issues have been forgotten. He now can prepare himself for the biggest stage of his, or anyone else’s career in nine weeks time.
Jon Jones is already touted by many, at the young age of 28, as the greatest of all time but a blot on his record at this point in his career would make that talk disappear in a heartbeat. And that is why this fight is so good. It won’t make as much money as McGregor versus Diaz and not so many people will watch. But it is the most important fight of the greatest fighter on earth’s career. In my book that makes it a better main event than one at welterweight between the featherweight champion and the number five ranked lightweight, with no belt on the line.
