Jones-Cormier rematch to headline UFC 200

MANILA, Philippines – The Ultimate Fighting Championship has replaced the canceled Connor McGregor bout with another equally explosive rematch pitting Jon "Bones" Jones against Daniel Cormier as the main event of UFC 200 on July 10 (Phl time).

The official announcement came Thursday, just a few days after Jones overpowered Ovince Saint Preux via unanimous decision in his first fight since he had his light heavyweight title stropped last year.

The decision to highlight UFC 200 with the Jones-Cormier fight underscored the fight outfit's persistence not to give in to McGregor's wish of lightening his promotional loads to be able to concentrate on his re-match with Nate Diaz.

McGregor, undeniably UFC's biggest star today after he zoomed to stardom with a sensational knockout victory of Jose Aldo last year, declined to attend UFC's promotional tour in Las Vegas last week leading to his supposed duel with Diaz.

He even been declared on his Twitter account that he "retired" before he changed his mind saying he'll fight in UFC200.

It will not happen.

Instead, it will be Jones and Cormier who will do the big show.

"Competitively, I respect what he's done. He beat me, so I do want to fight him again," Cormier told UFC.com.

Jones (22-1) currently holds the interim championship following the win over Saint Preux while Cormier (17-1) had the real deal after he won it in the former's absence and defended it successfully.

Interestingly, Cormier's lone defeat came at the hands of Jones, whom the former lost in UFC 182 last year.

Before losing the crown, Jones was considered one of the most dominant champion not just in the UFC but also in the mixed martial arts world before running into personal problems and eventually pleading guilty for leaving the scene of an accident that caused injuries.

Jones said Cormier can't beat him.

"I thought DC's (Cormier) last two fights were great. He did great. I don't question DC's ability to beat everyone else, he'll just never beat me."