The UFC is returning to Toronto with a bang as Daniel Cormier will defend his light-heavyweight title in a rematch against Anthony “Rumble” Johnson Dec. 10 at UFC 206 at Air Canada Centre.
The UFC has not specified whether or not it will serve as the main event.
Cormier, who also works as a UFC analyst for FOX Sports, was the one who broke the news to the world late Wednesday.
The two fought for the vacant 205-pound title back at UFC 187 last May after former champion Jon Jones was stripped of his title due to legal troubles. Cormier submitted Johnson with a rear-naked choke in the third round to win the belt.
Cormier is coming off a unanimous decision victory over short-notice opponent Anderson Silva at UFC 200 in July. Cormier had been scheduled to fight Jones, but the troubled former champ was pulled from the bout three days prior to the event after being flagged for a potential doping violation. Jones tested positive for two estrogen-blocking substances and is facing a possible two-year suspension. With Jones’ immediate future unclear, it paved the way for a Cormier-Johnson rematch.
It was rumoured the fight would take place at UFC 205 at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 12, but Cormier turned down that opportunity in order to have more time to train and recover.
“I had to do some stuff to my knee,” Cormier (18-1) told MMAjunkie Radio Thursday. “So I needed a little more time. Obviously, I’m not going to tell that to Anthony before it happens. But I fought on UFC 200, which was a massive card, so I don’t really feel that need to just be on the first card in Madison Square Garden.”
Johnson (22-5) has redemption on his mind. His loss to Cormier was his lone setback in the last four years. The Blackzilians product is known for his tremendous knockout power, which was on display in his 13-second starching of Glover Teixeira at UFC 202 in August.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8jjypTCJiU
The UFC added five other bouts to the card.
Canadians Valerie Letourneau, John Makdessi, Olivier Aubin-Mercier and Jason Saggo are slated to take on Poliana Botelho, Lando Vannata, Drew Dober and Rustam Khabilov, respectively. A fight between top-10 flyweight contenders Zach Makovsky and John Moraga was also added.
