To say it’s been a dramatic 48 hours for the UFC would be putting it mildly. After Jon Jones was pulled from the UFC 200 main event fight with Daniel Cormier due to a potential USADA doping violation, UFC president Dana White began work on trying to find a replacement as soon as possible.
Following the conclusion of UFC Fight Night 90 the UFC held a special press conference to announce Anderson Silva as Jon Jones’ replacement. Dana White said there were three options; Gegard Moussasi, who was already scheduled to fight on the card, Dan Henderson, who White said they had other plans for and finally Anderson Silva who recently underwent gallbladder surgery.
White gave some insight into why the promotion went ahead with Silva.
“I think it’s an interesting, fun fight,” said White. “Anderson Silva is undefeated at 205, and not just undefeated, but devastatingly undefeated. Every time he’s moved up to 205, he’s looked better than he did at 185. Anderson is giving Daniel the opportunity to fight, to make money and to perform on UFC 200.”
The three round fight will be contested at the light heavyweight limit of 205lbs and with less than 24 hours before weigh ins and 48 hours before the fight, Silva wanted to allay in fears on the condition he’s in as he spoke to the media.
“I think I’m in good shape and I don’t want Daniel to think I’m underestimating him or coming in here to try and challenge the champion,” Silva said. “I’m here to challenge myself. I have to go out there and put on a good fight. If I was worried, I wouldn’t be here tonight announcing this. A fight’s a fight and I’ve gone through a lot of bad things in my fights in the UFC so anything can happen out there.”
Daniel Cormier vs. Anderson Silva is now part of a new look UFC 200 main card which is now headlined by Miesha Tate vs. Amanda Nunes as they fight for the women’s UFC bantamweight championship. UFC 200 takes play on July 9th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
