Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones 2 set for UFC 197 in Las Vegas

It's been no secret that the UFC has targeted Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones 2 for April, but now it's finally official. On Saturday night during the UFC Fight Night: Hendricks vs. Thompson broadcast, the UFC confirmed that this highly anticipated light heavyweight championship rematch will headline UFC 197 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on 4/23, only this time it's for Cormier's belt. The initial hope was for the event to be staged at Madison Square Garden in New York, but plans to finally hold a UFC show in the state remain on the shelf for at least another few months.

The first bout between Cormier and Jones ended in a unanimous decision win for Jones in the UFC 182 main event in January 2015. Days later, it was revealed that Jones had tested positive for cocaine metabolites in an out-of-competition test, but that revelation didn't cost "Bones" his win or his belt. He would later be stripped of the belt after he was arrested for a hit-and-run collision in April. The UFC suspended him indefinitely following this incident before lifting the ban after he entered a guilty plea for leaving the scene of an accident and was sentenced to 18 months probation.

Cormier capitalized on the removal of Jones as champion by winning the vacant title over Anthony Johnson at UFC 187 last May. He successfully defended his title with a thrilling split decision win over Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 192. Now he'll get the chance to even the score with his bitter rival, who is seeking to regain the light heavyweight belt that he never lost in the Octagon.

Also set for UFC 197 is a co-main event between reigning flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson and Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo, in what will be the first PPV co-main role for Mighty Mouse since he initially won the inaugural title vs. Joseph Benavidez at UFC 152.