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Daniel Cormier submits Anthony Johnson to capture light heavyweight title, calls out Jon Jones

If we learned anything about Daniel Cormier on Saturday night, it's that the man can take a hell of a punch.

In the opening moments of his light heavyweight title clash with Anthony Johnson on Saturday night, Cormier was sent on an unscheduled trip to the canvas by a hellacious overhand right, and was forced to desperately enter survival mode with visions of a title victory quickly evaporating.

Instead of folding up shop and succumbing to Johnson's ridiculous, world-destroying power, Cormier - a former Olympian - fell back on his vaunted wrestling, and started to steadily retake the fight.

By the second stanza, Johnson had unleashed most of his heavy artillery, and Cormier, bolstered by the confidence he'd gained by surviving the early onslaught, proceeded to systematically grind Johnson down on the floor, landing a series of vicious, slicing elbows while "Rumble" seemed to completely run out of steam.

The third round was more of the same, with Cormier avoiding Johnson's power and turning the fight into a grappling match. Midway through the frame, Cormier secured an exhausted Johnson's back and snaked in a fight-ending rear-naked choke.

#UFC187 CORMIER derrotou JOHNSON por finalização #UFC #MMA #MMAKnockouts #MMA_Hits #mmavine #MMA_Submissions

Following the bout, Cormier called out former division kingpin Jon Jones, who was stripped of the title following his alleged involvement in a hit-and-run accident in April.

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