Cormier wins vacant UFC title over Johnson

LAS VEGAS – Daniel Cormier wore the conflict on his beaming face when he got the UFC’s light heavyweight title belt strapped around his waist in the same Vegas cage where he failed to win it a few months ago.

While Cormier knew he could celebrate the biggest night of a fighting career that began in poverty and reached incredible heights, the new champion also realized a bigger bout casts a shadow over this achievement.

“I have a message for one man,” Cormier said in the cage. “Jon Jones, get your (stuff) together. I’m waiting for you.”

Cormier beat Anthony “Rumble” Johnson with a rear naked choke in the third round, dominating on the ground to win the vacant 205-pound title at UFC 187 on Saturday night.

Cormier ( 16- 1) controlled Johnson ( 19- 5) throughout the final two rounds at the MGM Grand Garden to claim the title stripped from Jones, who was suspended indefinitely by the UFC last month after his arrest when police said he left the scene of a car accident.

Cormier lost a decision at UFC 182 in January to Jones, widely considered the world’s best mixed martial artist. When Jones’ career imploded last month, Cormier agreed to replace him on less than four weeks’ notice, coming through with a dominant effort and ending Johnson’s nine-fight winning streak.

The performance allowed Cormier to celebrate his second major MMA championship, along with his Strikeforce heavyweight title. He repeatedly said he didn’t feel the need to qualify his achievement against Jones’ misfortunes, even while he did exactly that.