Daniel Cormier Confirms He’ll Fight ‘Rumble’ At UFC 206

It looks like the drama surrounding the next UFC light heavyweight title fight is over.

Champion Daniel Cormier announced on this evening’s episode of “UFC Tonight” that he will be facing top contender Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson at December’s UFC 206 from Toronto. Dana White had speculated that Johnson could fight interim champion Jon Jones, but with “Bones” uncertain suspension status still up in the air, it appears the promotion went with what many felt was the clear consensus choice.

The decision is hard to argue with from a pure fighting standpoint, as “Rumble” has knocked out three straight top contenders in Glover Teixeira, Ryan Bader, and Jimi Manuwa after Cormier submitted him in the third round of their impromptu light heavyweight championship bout in the main event of May 2015’s UFC 187. That fight only came about when Cormier, who had lost to Jones by unanimous decision earlier in the year, filled in after the dominant but troubled MMA legend was arrested for a disturbing hit-and-run in his adopted home of Albuquerque.

Cormier was set to finally rematch Jones at April’s UFC 197 but was injured, and their long-held rivalry took yet another turn for the strange when Jones tested positive for estrogen blockers just three days prior to their rescheduled main event at July 9’s anticipated UFC 200. “Bones” still awaits his punishment and his hearing was postponed today, but the former champ believes he’ll receive a lighter sentence due to having failed the tests because of sexual performance drug Cialis.

Cormier fought all-time great former middle champ Anderson Silva as a late replacement, and was thrust into a rock and a hard place when he used his Olympic-level wrestling to win a safe, uninspired unanimous decision over “The Spider.” Prior to his latest back-and-forth with Jones, Cormier defended his title in one of the best fights of last year against Alexander Gustafsson five months after he originally beat ‘Rumble’ for the belt.

It remains unknown whether or not Cormier vs. Johnson II will headline the event, which takes place on December 10, from the Air Canada Centre, as longtime former welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre has been rumored to be making his long-awaited return at the event, although nothing has been made official.