When Daniel Cormier choked out Anthony “Rumble” Johnson in the main event of UFC 210, it opened the door for a massive Cormier vs. Jon Jones light heavyweight grudge match sometime later this year. Given that UFC 213, which will cap off this year’s International Fight Week, is still without a main event, and that it occurs right as Jones’ PED-related suspension ends, it looks like the perfect setting for this massive light heavyweight title fight.
At the UFC 210 post-fight press conference, UFC President Dana White was asked about the possibility of this grudge match headlining UFC 213, which is scheduled for July 8 in Las Vegas, Nevada. While the boss was noncommittal in his answer, he did confirm that the UFC 213 lineup will include a bantamweight title fight between champ Cody Garbrandt and estranged former teammate TJ Dillashaw.
“Obviously, Cody and TJ. are already on that card, so yeah, we’ll see how that goes,” White said (via mmamania.com).
Before they meet in the Octagon, Garbrandt and Dillashaw will serve as rival coaches on the latest season of The Ultimate Fighter, which has already finished filming and airs later this month.
When we last saw Garbrandt in action, he capture the UFC bantamweight crown with a lopsided decision win over bantamweight great Dominick Cruz. Prior to that, he went 5-0 in his first five bouts in the Octagon, defeating Marcus Brimage, Henry Briones, Augusto Mendes, Thomas Almeida, and Takeya Mizugaki. He’s 11-1 overall.
Dillashaw, meanwhile, has rebounded from a close title loss to Cruz with dominant decision defeats of Raphael Assuncao and John Lineker. He’s 14-3 in sum.
UFC 213 will also include an incredible welterweight booking between fan favorites “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler and Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone.
Who do you think wins this UFC 213 bantamweight title fight? Sound off in the comments section, PENN Nation!
This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 4/9/2017.