UFC: Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones II will be announced in coming days

NEWARK, N.J. – Get ready for the rematch between UFC light-heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier and ex-titleholder Jon Jones.

While Anthony Johnson (21-5 MMA, 12-5 UFC) solidified his contender status with a first-round finish of Ryan Bader (20-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC on FOX 18 headliner, he knows he’ll need to wait a while for a title shot.

That’s because first up for champ Cormier (17-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) is a rematch Jones (21-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC).

“We expect to have an announcement (of Cormier vs. Jones II) in the next couple of days here,” UFC Vice President of Public Relations Dave Sholler said following UFC on FOX 18 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. “Things are shaking out, and I think you guys are going to be pleased with the outcome.

“As for Anthony Johnson, (UFC broadcaster) Joe (Rogan) was already talking about plans for him. We don’t usually make fights tonight, but we’re going to get back to Vegas on Tuesday and huddle on this.”

Sholler didn’t divulge a date or location for Jones-Cormier II.

Then-champ Jones, who’s ranked No. 1 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA light-heavyweight rankings defeated No. 2-ranked Cormier via unanimous decision in January 2015. However, when Jones was stripped of his title following an April 2015 hit-and-run arrest, Cormier claimed the vacant belt with a submission win over No. 3-ranked Johnson the following month.

Cormier, who then made his first title defense with a split-decision win over Alexander Gustafsson this past October, now gets a second chance to defeat Jones.

Johnson, meanwhile, is willing to wait for the dust to settle before he makes his next move.

“That’s the biggest fight of my life,” he told MMAjunkie. “They want to make me wait that long? I definitely would do it. It gives me plenty of time for me to get ready for whoever.

“(And) if somebody gets hurt and they need a replacement, I’ll definitely jump in if I’m healthy and able to fight.”

For complete coverage of UFC on FOX 18, check out the UFC Events section of the site.