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Jones and Cormier fought at UFC 182 in January 2015. AP/Press Association Images

The Cormier-Jones light-heavyweight title rematch at UFC 197 is off

The champion has pulled out of the 23 April showdown after sustaining an injury.

IT LOOKS LIKE Daniel Cormier and Jon Jones will have to wait a little longer to renew their heated rivalry.

The pair were scheduled to meet in the main event at UFC 197 in Las Vegas on 23 April, with Cormier set to defend the UFC light-heavyweight title.

However, the highly-anticipated rematch is now off after several media outlets in the US — including FOX Sports and MMAFighting.com — confirmed rumours that Cormier had sustained a shin injury.

The UFC has yet to officially comment on the development so it’s unclear if Jones will be rematched with a different opponent for UFC 197. A flyweight title bout between champion Demetrious Johnson and Henry Cejudo is also on the card.

In January 2015, Jones successfully defended the 205lbs title against Cormier. However, he was later stripped of the belt after being arrested following a hit-and-run incident.

Cormier defeated Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson to claim the vacant strap, which he retained after overcoming Alexander Gustafsson in his inaugural bout as champion last October.

The UFC 197 headliner appeared to be in danger when Jones was arrested on Tuesday for violating his probation by receiving five traffic tickets, but he was released on Thursday and the UFC confirmed that he wouldn’t be removed from this month’s MGM Grand bill.

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