Jon Jones out; Daniel Cormier vs. Anthony Johnson headlines UFC 187 in May (VIDEO)
A new UFC light heavyweight champion will be crowned at UFC 187 in May as Daniel Cormier steps in to replace Jon Jones as he faces Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson in the new main event for the card taking place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Cormier received the title shot following the announcement that Jon Jones was stripped of the belt and suspended indefinitely after he was arrested on Monday on felony charges stemming from an alleged hit-and-run accident where he's been accused of leaving the scene after a three car pile-up.
UFC president Dana White spoke about the decision on FOX Sports Live on Monday after the organization stripped Jones of the belt and suspended him indefinitely.
"When you have a guy like Jon Jones who has defended his title as many times as he has, and for us to have to go in and strip him of his title and suspend him it's not fun, but you know what they say -- the show goes on," White said. "Anthony Johnson is ready for this fight and Daniel Cormier was beyond pumped to get this opportunity."
Cormier was originally expected to face Ryan Bader in the main event of the UFC Fight Night card headed to New Orleans on June 6.
UFC officials have not announced a replacement to step in and face Bader for a new headline fight on the card.
A former two-time Olympian, Cormier most recently fought in January when he dropped a unanimous decision to Jones at UFC 182.
Meanwhile, Johnson remains in place as the other half of the main event following his first round destruction of former title contender Alexander Gustafsson in January. Johnson is 3-0 since returning to the UFC last year and now faces Cormier with the light heavyweight title on the line.
UFC 187 also features a middleweight title fight in the co-main event as Chris Weidman takes on Vitor Belfort.
