At the third time of asking, Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier will finally rematch inside the octagon over two and a half years after their first encounter.
The Honda Center in Anaheim, California will play host to UFC 214 on Saturday evening, with the light heavyweight clash at the head of the card.
The animosity between the two started when they first met at UFC 121 in 2010, also at the Honda Center as Cormier was cornering team mate Cain Velasquez. Jones ran into Cormier backstage and labelled him "that wrestling guy", before going on to say "I'll deal with you soon".
This is amazingly the fifth time they've been scheduled to meet and with both Jones and Cormier making weight earlier this evening, we're twenty-four hours away from witnessing one of the greatest matchups in the history of the UFC.
In their first matchup, Jon Jones outlasted and out struck Daniel Cormier in an emotionally charged affair. It represented the first and only blemish on Cormier's outstanding record. The key to victory for the former Olympic wrestler has been to utilise that skill, but Jones managed to secure three takedowns to Cormier's one.
Advert
Jones also only has one blemish on his record, a disqualification against Matt Hamill back in 2009. If Jon Jones is considered to be the greatest light heavyweight in the history of the sport, then Daniel Cormier has a strong case for being second.
Will history repeat itself? Or will Cormier shock the world?
Our man Darren Russell (@DRussellMMA) takes a look at the best bets to make as the light heavyweight title is up for grabs on Sunday morning.
Jones to win by decision and land more total strikes - 5/4 at SkyBet
Whoever requested this bet might well deserve a drink if you ever see them. I can't see Jones getting Cormier out of there earlier than the judges will render their decision.
Cormier has taken shots from the biggest and best in the world, at both light heavyweight and heavyweight and nobody has finished him. If Jones were to stop Cormier, it would be the ultimate victory for the thirty-year old.
This bet became reality in the first fight. 5/4 is ridiculously good value!
Cormier to win by rear-naked choke - 20/1 at SkyBet
Another bet that represents remarkable value is Cormier to sink in the rear-naked choke and shock the crowd in Anaheim.
The champion has won three of his last six by rear-naked choke including a duo of victories over Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson. Jones has only just been promoted from a white belt to blue belt, this doesn't reflect the level of his jiu-jitsu. He has submitted black belts Vitor Belfort and Lyoto Machida and is rumoured to have been developing his game even further during his time out of the octagon.
Whilst 20/1 represents this being unlikely, don't be shocked if Cormier takes Jones' back and wraps up the choke underneath the neck of the former champion.
I cannot wait for this fight.
