White: Cormier-Jones 2 will headline UFC 214; Manuwa to be on standby

Dana White has changed his stance on Jon Jones' comeback bout.

In a Friday media scrum, the UFC president anointed a rematch between light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier and the former titleholder as the main event of UFC 214, scheduled for July 29 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

Having previously voiced his reluctance to trust the oft-troubled Jones with a headlining slot, White added that contender Jimi Manuwa would be in the Golden State as a potential fill-in should either Cormier or "Bones" have to bow out of the long anticipated rematch.

"D.C. and Jon Jones will be the main event," White said, according to FOX Sports' Damon Martin. "I'm bringing in (Jimi) Manuwa to fight on the undercard there so if anything happens, Jimi Manuwa will be ready to go and step in for somebody falling out if that happens."

The UFC boss aims to have Manuwa compete on the card, although his opponent has yet to be determined.

White's initial stance on Jones' return arose from the former champ's violation of the USADA's anti-doping policy, which scrapped the Cormier rematch just three days prior to UFC 200. Jones was stripped of the division's interim title and handed a one-year retroactive ban as a result, the latest of many trials outside the Octagon that have served as ammunition for Cormier in his incessant callouts.

The bitter rivals are hoping the third time proves to be the charm, having seen two dates fall through since Jones took a unanimous decision over Cormier at UFC 182 in January 2015.