Newly minted UFC light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier and UFC middleweight champ Chris Weidman put together spectacular performances in the UFC 187 co-headliners this past Saturday night (May 23, 2015). With both divisions stacked with hungry contenders, MMAmania.com ponders who will be first in line to take a swing at “DC” and “The All American.”
It was a legendary evening for the mixed martial arts (MMA) world last night (Sat., May 23, 2015) as Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returned to MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada for a sensational UFC 187 pay-per-view (PPV) that delivered epic bouts throughout the card.
On a night where two champions would be crowned, middleweight kingpin Chris Weidman vanquished his third straight Brazilian foe, while Daniel Cormier finally reached the apex of his sport by earning the light heavyweight strap.
First up was “The All American,” as he finally took on his bitter rival Vitor Belfort, and he made him pay for “still cheating” as he promised at the weigh-ins.
Weidman survived Belfort’s initial onslaught, took “The Phenom” down, and rained down vicious ground and pound en route to the (technical) knockout finish just three minutes into the fight.
Check out the highlights here.
Barring any injuries or setbacks, it probably won’t be long before fight fans see Weidman back inside the Octagon, and there are two viable contenders for him to face off against next.
The 185-pound king wants his next fight at Madison Square Garden in New York City, and with a December 5th date booked for UFC 194, he may very well get his wish.
According to UFC President Dana White, Ronaldo Souza will likely be next in line to face off against Weidman, but he has stated before that No. 1-ranked Luke Rockhold could very well fight for the belt next.
We’ll just have to wait and see!
As for Cormier, the former Olympian finally earned the title he has been working so hard for. At 36-years old, and after 21 years of top-level competition, Cormier can finally say he is a UFC champion, regardless of the circumstances.
After submitting Anthony Johnson in the third round of their main event title tilt (highlights here), “DC” got on the mic and called out his bitter rival Jon Jones to get his “shit together” in one of the most memorable promos of all time (watch it here).
Although Cormier would love to rematch “Bones,” the former champ’s legal troubles could have him in jail for up to three years, meaning “DC” will be sitting atop the throne for some time.
That leaves No. 5-ranked light heavyweight Ryan Bader as the likely next contender, and considering he and Cormier nearly came to blows last evening at the post-fight press conference, UFC brass will be even more inclined to schedule that fight.
According to “DC,” a fight with Bader is “easy money,” so it may not be long before we see the newly minted champion back inside the Octagon.
For complete results from UFC 187: “Johnson vs. Cormier,” including play-by-play updates, click here.
Source: MMA Mania
