LAS VEGAS
Daniel Cormier finally realized his dream by becoming the new UFC light-heavyweight champion with a third-round submission finish over Anthony Johnson on Saturday night at UFC 187, and wasted no time in calling out Jon Jones to get his act together and return to the Octagon to face him.
Before Cormier could wrap the belt around his waist, he had to endure a rough start to the opening round as Johnson was looking to finish the fight while trying to remove the former Olympian’s head from his shoulders.
Johnson came out strong before launching a haymaker right hand that clubbed Cormier in the head, sending Cormier to the canvas. While that punch might have put most light heavyweights away, Cormier survived and was able to work into the clinch to give him time to wipe the cobwebs free.
During every exchange in which the fighters separated, Johnson went head hunting as he tried to put his fist through Cormier’s head.
The second round saw a dramatic shift in momentum as Cormier got Johnson to the ground with a big slam and kept him there for the remainder of the five-minute session.
Cormier looked for a submission at first, but then transitioned to a ground and pound attack as he brutalized Johnson on the mat.
By the end of the round, Cormier opened up a cut on Johnson’s head and it looked like he might get a finish but the horn sounded before he could put Johnson away. Johnson was slow to rise from the mat and get to his corner, but as soon as Round Three began, the No. 1-ranked challenger was right back in Cormier’s face looking to knock him out.
Once Cormier was able to withstand the early barrage, he took Johnson to the mat and it was clear he was in control. Johnson looked exhausted as he floundered on the mat and Cormier sunk in the hooks before wrapping his forearm under Johnson’s chin while Rumble was trapped against the cage.
Cormier wrenched up on the hold and Johnson had no choice but to tap out. The stoppage came at 2:39 in Round Three.
Cormier now stands tall as the new UFC light heavyweight champion in his second attempt to win the belt after falling by decision to former title-holder Jones in January. Jones remains on indefinite suspension after being arrested on felony hit-and-run charges and could face jail time if convicted.
Regardless of his current standing as champion, Cormier wasted no time turning his attention towards his old rival in his only words after winning the UFC light heavyweight title.
“I have a message for one man: Jon Jones, get your s–t together!” Cormier said. “I’m waiting for you!”
Jones defeated Cormier by unanimous decision in January at UFC 182 before his arrest cost him the light-heavyweight title as well as an indefinite suspension from the promotion. Jones likely won’t be able to return until his legal issues are cleared up, but there’s no timetable for when that might happen.
As for Johnson, his improbable return to the UFC after an unceremonious exit almost ended with him holding the gold, but in the end he came up short.
Johnson says he has no regrets about the fight and encourages people to follow his example.
“Tonight I might have lost, but the one thing I want you guys to remember is that you should never give up,” Johnson said while addressing the crowd. “I was pushed down to the bottom and I worked my way up to the top. I want you all to know no matter what comes your way in life, never give up.”
Johnson still remains one of the most dangerous fighters in the world at 205 pounds and with Jones missing in action for the foreseeable future, it probably wouldn’t take much for the heavy-handed hitter to earn another crack at Cormier and the light-heavyweight title.