The rematch that nearly wasn't is finally upon us.
After making weight in dramatic and controversial fashion Friday morning, Daniel Cormier is now set to defend his light heavyweight title in a rematch with Anthony Johnson at Saturday's UFC 210 at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY.
The headlining bout appeared either doomed or in danger of losing its championship implications at Friday's weigh-ins, as Cormier tipped the scales 1.2 pounds over the 205-pound limit, but he somehow shed the excess pudge within the next two minutes and change.
Related: Cormier, Johnson narrowly make weight in dramatic fashion for UFC 210
The fiasco raised no shortage of eyebrows, and many in attendance were later informed of an apparent New York State Athletic Commission guideline allowing fighters competing in title bouts a second chance to make weight within two hours of the failed first attempt, but the revelation did little to quell the fuss, as a naked Cormier was suspected of resorting to a questionable tactic to make the mark on his second try.
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With the hoopla now in the rear-view mirror, Cormier's first title defense in 18 months is now a go. "DC" captured the then-vacant strap in his first dance with "Rumble," submitting the slugger with a third-round rear-naked choke at UFC 187.
After edging Alexander Gustafsson by split decision to retain the strap at UFC 192, the 38-year-old saw a much anticipated rematch with Jon Jones - the only man to beat him - fall through just three days prior to UFC 200 last July when Jones was flagged for a USADA violation. Cormier ended up taking a lopsided decision over short-notice fill-in Anderson Silva in a non-title bout, and with Johnson extending his win streak to three with a 13-second starching of Glover Teixeira a month later, the stars were aligned for them to meet again at UFC 206 this past December, only for Cormier to pull out with an injury just over two weeks out.
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Dead set on claiming the divisional strap and avenging the only loss he's suffered since rejoining the UFC three years ago, "Rumble" got cozy on the couch until Cormier recovered, and now takes the trio of highlight-reel KOs he's accrued since falling to the incumbent to Buffalo's KeyBank Center.
The 33-year-old Johnson may have succumbed to Cormier's choke in their first meeting, but the early overhand right and first-round typhoon he unleashed on the champ was enough to put them in a dead heat on a bevy of sports books heading into Saturday, and with Jones - Cormier's mortal enemy - expected to address the media Friday and watch the bout in person, the best of the event's ruckus may still be yet to come.
Weidman, Mousasi look to make a statement
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Moments before Johnson works to complete his climb back to the title, Chris Weidman will look to begin his own to reclaim the middleweight strap that once brandished his shoulder when he takes on Gegard Mousasi in the co-main event.
The 32-year-old won the 185-pound belt nearly four years ago at UFC 162, where he became the first man to defeat Anderson Silva in the Octagon. Weidman's reign proved equally as impressive, as he got the better of Silva (again), Lyoto Machida, and Vitor Belfort in three successful title defenses.
Cut to nearly two years after his drubbing of Belfort, the beltless Long Islander will look to rebound from two straight knockout losses and prove he still belongs in the middleweight top tier opposite the surging Mousasi.
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A winner of four straight heading into the last fight on his UFC contract, Mousasi - who's turned down two offers to remain with the promotion - will look to see his gamble through and earn some clout at the bargaining table with a win over the former champ.
The 31-year-old embarked on a streaky 4-3 run upon making the jump from the now-defunct Strikeforce in 2013, but rebounded from his 2015 loss to Uriah Hall with a vengeance, besting Thales Leites, Thiago Santos, and Belfort before avenging the loss to Hall with a first-round TKO this past November.
The fifth-ranked contender has taken to lobbying for his due and proper of late, and if he beats Weidman - who sits one spot above him - he just might get it.
All's well that ends well
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The main event wasn't the only fight put in jeopardy Friday, as Pearl Gonzalez nearly saw her UFC debut opposite strawweight Cynthia Calvillo fall through.
Mere minutes after coming in on weight, Gonzalez appeared to have been pulled from the card, as a NYSAC guideline prohibits fighters with breast implants from fighting in the Empire State, although she'd reportedly disclosed them in her pre-fight medicals. The UFC remained mum on the fiasco all the while, hoping the fight could be salvaged, and salvaged it was, with the commission ultimately clearing Gonzalez to fight moments before Friday afternoon's ceremonial weigh-ins.
The 30-year-old will take a six-fight win streak including five stoppages into her promotional debut, while Calvillo will look to preserve her unblemished 4-0 record in her second fight in just two under months.
Related: UFC 210 predictions: Will 'Rumble' get his revenge?