Olympic wrestling teammates Cormier, Cejudo to compete for World titles in UFC 197 on April 23
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling, and UFC
With 2016 being an Olympic year, it is fitting that the headline events for UFC 197 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas will feature teammates from the 2008 U.S. Olympic freestyle wrestling team.
Two-time Olympian Daniel Cormier, the current UFC World Light Heavyweight Champion, will battle former UFC champion Jon Jones on the card.
2008 Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo will also fight against current UFC Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson on the card as well.
The wrestling community can take great pride in these title fights, as all four of those competing come from an impressive wrestling background.
Cormier, a three-time state high school champion in Louisiana, was an NCAA runner-up for Oklahoma State and won two NJCAA national titles for Colby CC in Kansas. He competed for the USA in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece and the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. He was a 2007 World bronze medalist.
Cejudo, who won state high school titles in Arizona and Colorado (two in each state), became a U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete while still in high school. He won a gold medal at 55 kg/121 lbs. for the USA at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. He was also a member of the 2007 U.S. World Team, and won Junior World medals for the USA.
Jon “Bones” Jones was a New York state high school wrestling champion, and won an NJCAA National title for Iowa Central CC.
Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson placed second and third in the Washington state high school championships for Washington High School.
UFC PRESS RELEASE ON UFC.COM
Cormier-Jones 2 set for UFC 197 on April 23
In the main event of UFC 197 on April 23, the wait is over, as former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones returns to the Octagon in an attempt to reclaim his crown from Daniel Cormier in one of the most highly anticipated rematches in 205-pound history.
“This rematch was always going to happen,” Cormier said. “He (Jones) has been out apologizing and lifting weights since the last fight, while I’ve been improving and beating the best guys in the world. This rematch with Jon Jones is a new chapter, and it will be a whole different story.”
The championship action at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas doesn’t end there though, as UFC flyweight champion Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson, the most dominant titleholder in the sport today, will defend his title for the eighth time against unbeaten 2008 U.S. Olympic Gold medal-winning wrestler Henry Cejudo.
"I feel very proud. I want to thank the UFC for the opportunity to fight for the world title," Cejudo said. "It's my moment, it's time, there will be new champion. Get ready. I'm going to win this for the US and for ‘la raza latina’, my beautiful and beloved Mexico. The Aztec warrior is coming. The messenger will fight on April 23 and it comes up as an Aztec warrior "
Stay tuned to UFC.com for ticket on-sale dates and more UFC 197 fight card announcements.
The pound-for-pound king and a record-breaking holder of the 205-pound title, Jones vanquished Cormier via decision in their first bout in January of 2015. But after the New Yorker was stripped of his crown due to legal issues that have since been resolved, Cormier, a former U.S. Olympic wrestling team captain, won the vacant title by beating Anthony “Rumble” Johnson and then defeated Alexander Gustafsson in a classic championship bout. On April 23, "DC" is eager to welcome his heated rival Jones back to the Octagon to even the score.
The UFC’s first and only flyweight champion, Demetrious Johnson has ruled his weight class with an iron fist since winning the belt in 2012, successfully defending the title seven times with wins over the likes of John Dodson, Joseph Benavidez and Kyoji Horiguchi. But in 2008 U.S. Olympic Gold medalist Cejudo, he will be facing an unbeaten rising star hungry to make his move and secure his first world championship in mixed martial arts this April.
Two-time Olympian Daniel Cormier, the current UFC World Light Heavyweight Champion, will battle former UFC champion Jon Jones on the card.
2008 Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo will also fight against current UFC Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson on the card as well.
The wrestling community can take great pride in these title fights, as all four of those competing come from an impressive wrestling background.
Cormier, a three-time state high school champion in Louisiana, was an NCAA runner-up for Oklahoma State and won two NJCAA national titles for Colby CC in Kansas. He competed for the USA in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece and the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. He was a 2007 World bronze medalist.
Cejudo, who won state high school titles in Arizona and Colorado (two in each state), became a U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete while still in high school. He won a gold medal at 55 kg/121 lbs. for the USA at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. He was also a member of the 2007 U.S. World Team, and won Junior World medals for the USA.
Jon “Bones” Jones was a New York state high school wrestling champion, and won an NJCAA National title for Iowa Central CC.
Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson placed second and third in the Washington state high school championships for Washington High School.
UFC PRESS RELEASE ON UFC.COM
Cormier-Jones 2 set for UFC 197 on April 23
In the main event of UFC 197 on April 23, the wait is over, as former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones returns to the Octagon in an attempt to reclaim his crown from Daniel Cormier in one of the most highly anticipated rematches in 205-pound history.
“This rematch was always going to happen,” Cormier said. “He (Jones) has been out apologizing and lifting weights since the last fight, while I’ve been improving and beating the best guys in the world. This rematch with Jon Jones is a new chapter, and it will be a whole different story.”
The championship action at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas doesn’t end there though, as UFC flyweight champion Demetrious "Mighty Mouse" Johnson, the most dominant titleholder in the sport today, will defend his title for the eighth time against unbeaten 2008 U.S. Olympic Gold medal-winning wrestler Henry Cejudo.
"I feel very proud. I want to thank the UFC for the opportunity to fight for the world title," Cejudo said. "It's my moment, it's time, there will be new champion. Get ready. I'm going to win this for the US and for ‘la raza latina’, my beautiful and beloved Mexico. The Aztec warrior is coming. The messenger will fight on April 23 and it comes up as an Aztec warrior "
Stay tuned to UFC.com for ticket on-sale dates and more UFC 197 fight card announcements.
The pound-for-pound king and a record-breaking holder of the 205-pound title, Jones vanquished Cormier via decision in their first bout in January of 2015. But after the New Yorker was stripped of his crown due to legal issues that have since been resolved, Cormier, a former U.S. Olympic wrestling team captain, won the vacant title by beating Anthony “Rumble” Johnson and then defeated Alexander Gustafsson in a classic championship bout. On April 23, "DC" is eager to welcome his heated rival Jones back to the Octagon to even the score.
The UFC’s first and only flyweight champion, Demetrious Johnson has ruled his weight class with an iron fist since winning the belt in 2012, successfully defending the title seven times with wins over the likes of John Dodson, Joseph Benavidez and Kyoji Horiguchi. But in 2008 U.S. Olympic Gold medalist Cejudo, he will be facing an unbeaten rising star hungry to make his move and secure his first world championship in mixed martial arts this April.
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