LAS VEGAS _ Former long-reigning middleweight champion Anderson Silva has emerged as the replacement for Jon Jones to fight Daniel Cormier at UFC 200 Saturday.
UFC President Dana White confirmed speculation of the bout on television Thursday night, as a source involved in negotiations told the Los Angeles Times Thursday night, "It's on."
The bout will be a non-title, three-round light-heavyweight fight.
The UFC additionally elevated the women's bantamweight title fight between champion Miesha Tate and Amanda Nunes to the new main event, with the Brock Lesnar-Mark Hunt heavyweight bout as the co-main event.
Silva (33-7) provides a compelling opponent for light-heavyweight champion Cormier (17-1) after former light-heavyweight champion Jones was pulled from UFC 200 Wednesday night over a positive test for a banned performance-enhancing substance.
Cormier was distraught after losing the Jones fight. He built up a fierce rivalry with the UFC's top pound-for-pound fighter.
Now, he'll face perhaps the sport's all-time pound-for-pound talent in the historical card.
