Why Anthony Johnson isn’t fighting Jon Jones on short notice at UFC 197

Anthony Johnson was the first option that came to mind when news broke that Daniel Cormier was injured and would be unable to fight Jon Jones in the main event of UFC 197.

So why didn’t Johnson (21-5 MMA, 12-5 UFC), a one-time title challenger, step in for champ Cormier (17-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) against former champ Jones (21-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC), who will instead meet Ovince Saint Preux (19-7 MMA, 7-2 UFC) for an interim light heavyweight title at the event later this month?

UFC President Dana White said it simply came down to a matter of poor timing. Johnson, No. 3 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA light heavyweight rankings, recently underwent an oral procedure that would prevent him from training or competing. That opened the door for No. 8-ranked Saint Preux to fight No. 1-ranked Jones.

“Obviously, the No. 1 choice would be Anthony Johnson, who is the No. 2-ranked guy in the world, and a fight that everybody wants to see,” White told ESPN’s “SportsCenter.” “But Anthony Johnson just had surgery on his mouth and can’t even put a mouthpiece in for at least three weeks.”

UFC 197 takes place April 23 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena. Jones vs. Saint Preux headlines the pay-per-view main card following prelims on FOX Sports and UFC Fight Pass.

“Rumble” was once scheduled to fight Jones at UFC 187 this past May. Less than a month before the event, however, Jones was involved in a well-documented hit-and-run accident that caused him to be stripped of the UFC light heavyweight title and suspended from competition.

Cormier then stepped in for “Bones” and earned a third-round submission of Johnson to capture the vacant championship.

UFC 197 marks Jones’ comeback fight, and while he was scheduled to rematch Cormier in an attempt to regain the 205-pound strap, the injury caused a short-notice shakeup that afforded Saint Preux – and not Johnson – with the opportunity to face the sport’s No. 1-ranked pound-for-pound fighter.

For more on UFC 197, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.