Jon Jones is back. And he's getting a shot at the light heavyweight title he never lost in his return bout.
Daniel Cormier will defend the UFC light heavyweight belt against Jones in the main event of UFC 197 on April 23 in Las Vegas, it was announced Saturday during UFC Fight Night: Hendricks vs. Thompson. Jones beat Cormier in the UFC 182 main event in January 2015.
In the co-main event, Demetrious Johnson will defend his flyweight title against Henry Cejudo.
Cormier (17-1) has defeated Anthony Johnson and Alexander Gustafsson since falling to Jones. Meanwhile, Jones has dealt with a suspension and court dates following a felony hit-and-run arrest in April 2015. Jones (21-1) has won 12 in a row, has never truly lost an MMA fight and is still considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. The UFC stripped the belt from Jones after the arrest and Cormier won it in a fight with Johnson for the vacant title.
Jones and Cormier have a long rivalry and got into a brawl during a press event in August 2014.
Johnson (23-2-1) is the only flyweight champion the UFC has known and has seven straight title defenses. Cejudo (10-0), a former Olympic wrestling gold medalist, has won all four of his UFC fights.
UFC 197 will be held at MGM Grand in Las Vegas after originally being planned for Madison Square Garden in New York. The UFC was not able to get MMA legalized in New York via a lawsuit in time for the event.