UFC 200: Jon Jones vs Daniel Cormier replaces Conor McGregor vs Nate Diaz as headline fight

McGregor vs Diaz was due to headline UFC 200 until McGregor announced his false retirement and pulled out of the fight

Jon Jones will fight Daniel Cormier at UFC 200, UFC president Dana White confirmed (Getty)

It was announced today by the UFC that the new main event at UFC 200 will feature for the undisputed UFC light heavyweight title with Jon Jones facing Daniel Cormier on July 9th.

The news was broken on the breakfast show 'Good Morning America' by UFC President Dana White who was also joined by other UFC stars including Frankie Edgar, Miesha Tate and Jose Aldo.

Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz had been originally booked for the main event slot. However, last week McGregor and the UFC ran into a dispute about the promotional work required and the two parties failed to reach an agreement. This saw the UFC removed McGregor from the card and announce the new headliner today.

While a portion of fans will no doubt be disappointed that McGregor taking on Diaz will not feature at the UFC's biggest ever event, the replacement fight between Jones and Cormier is a worthy replacement and it comes with its own bitter feud and backstory.

Jones and Cormier first clashed back in August 2014 when they were involved in a crazy pull apart brawl on the floor of the MGM Grand that occurred during the promotion for their first fight. After plenty more verbal confrontations, the two then eventually fought at UFC 182 in January 2015 where Jones won a unanimous decision to retain his light heavyweight title.

Jones wasn't just content with beating Cormier that night. He went on to really put salt in the wound after saying in an interview: "I don't like Daniel Cormier, I don't respect Daniel Cormier and I hope he's crying in a room right now somewhere." This is something Cormier says he has never forgotten.

Jon Jones beat Ovince Saint Preux at UFC 197 (AP)

The story then took another twist when Jones went through a series of legal and personal problems which led to him being stripped of his UFC title. In his absence, Cormier won the belt and defended it against Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 192 before Jones was reinstated into the organisation in December 2015.

On his return to action after 15 months out, Jones was then expected to meet Cormier for the title last weekend at UFC 196, however, a late injury to Cormier saw him replaced by Ovince Saint Preux who Jones went on to beat and win an interim version of the UFC light heavyweight title.

Conor McGregor will not fight at UFC 200 (Getty)

The table is now set again for Jones and Cormier to do battle for the second time and this time, it will be to decide the undisputed UFC light heavyweight champion l at UFC 200 on July 9th.