The UFC 210 main event features a rematch in the Light Heavyweight division as champion Daniel Cormier (18-1 MMA; 7-1 UFC) takes on Anthony Johnson (22-5 MMA; 13-5 UFC). The two men fought for the vacant title in 2015 – here they rematch. The UFC rankings have Johnson as the division’s #1 contender, with Cormier #3 on the pound for pound list. UFC 210: Cormier vs. Johnson 2 is live from Buffalo, NY this Saturday, April 8. The main card airs on PPV with a fight time of 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT, with the prelims starting at 8:00 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1 and 6:15 p.m. ET on Fight Pass.
Depending on your take, this rematch will either determine the Light Heavyweight champion of the world, or it will determine which man gets to keep the throne warm while we all wait for true champion Jon Jones to return. The fight gained a new wrinkle yesterday when Cormier failed to make weight and appeared to lose the title on the scale, only to reweigh moments later and come in on weight. It’s a controversial issue that has added doubts to the legitimacy of Cormier even carrying the belt into the fight.
How do these two stack up?
Cormier: 38 years old | 5’11″ | 72.5″ reach
Johnson: 33 years old | 6’2″ | 78″ reach
What have these two done recently?
Cormier: W – Anderson Silva (UD) | W – Alexander Gustafsson (SD) | W – Anthony Johnson (Sub)
Johnson: W – Glover Teixeira (KO) | W – Jimi Manuwa (KO) | W – Ryan Bader (KO)
How did these two get here?
Daniel Cormier suffered his lone career loss in 2015, dropping a decision to career rival Jon Jones, but is a perfect 3-0 since. Still, his 2016 has to be viewed as a frustrating year. He only fought once, and that was a UFC 200 last minute non-title fight with Anderson Silva after Jones failed a drug test. Cormier has some of the best wrestling in the game, and has powerful hands as well. But he’s also 38 years old and seem to be slowing down somewhat. When he loses, it’s unlikely Cormier reaches the title again, so if he wants that 2nd crack at Jones, this is a must win.
Anthony “Rumble” Johnson returned to the UFC in 2014, finally embracing his natural weight and competing at Light Heavyweight. He’s been incredible in this run, going 6-1, with 5 of those 6 coming via KO, 4 of those within the first 2:15 of the fight. He’s become one of the scariest knock-out fighters in the sport today, with brutal power in his hands. He’s shown off a mostly overlooked wrestling game in the past, but the 1 in the 6-1 is of course to Cormier, he used his wrestling advantage to control Rumble. He’ll need to have closed that gap in order to win here.
Why should you care?
Rumble means concussive violence could happen at any second, which makes for a fun fight. Plus, Jon Jones is right around the corner and maybe in the cage at the end of the fight.
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