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Daniel Cormier returns to defend light-heavyweight title

Anthony Johnson will finally get his shot at Daniel Cormier for the UFC light-heavyweight ti...



Daniel Cormier returns to defe...
Golf

Daniel Cormier returns to defend light-heavyweight title

Anthony Johnson will finally get his shot at Daniel Cormier for the UFC light-heavyweight title, with their postponed rematch being announced on Thursday morning.

The pair will headline UFC 210 in Buffalo on April 8 and will meet for the first time since their original bout in May 2015. Cormier, a former US Olympic wrestler, submitted Johnson to claim the belt vacated by Jon Jones at UFC 187.

The championship bout was previously set to take place last December in Toronto at UFC 206, but Cormier was forced to pull out with a groin injury.

"The last few weeks I’ve been having this issue with my right leg.," he told the MMA Hour last November regarding the injury. "Every time it was isolated, I couldn’t lift it. I adjusted my training and just started boxing. Which, when you think about it in a fight with Anthony Johnson it’s probably not your best course of action.

"About two weeks ago, I went to wrestling practice and it started bothering me more. I wasn’t able to run anymore, as I do a lot of running to drop the weight.

"Monday morning I woke up, hit pads, ran, and on Tuesday I went to run and I could not run. Thursday I went to jiu-jitsu practice and at that point, my right leg we were doing back drills; I was grappling with Cain, and I had to actually pick up my leg with my hand to put it inside before I could start to grapple.

"It had no power at all when it was isolated, so it had to be lifted. Last week for training was tough and it was getting worse."

Cormier has had one title defence since winning the title in 2015, beating Alexander Gustafsson in five rounds. Johnson picked up consecutive victories over Jimi Manuwa, Ryan Bader and Glover Teixeira to reclaim his spot as number one contender.

The card, taking place at the KeyBank Centre, will also feature a middleweight clash between former champion Chris Weidman and Gegard Mousasi.

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