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Ovince Saint Preux will replace injured light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier in the main event at UFC 197 against Jon Jones, the promotion announced on Saturday. Saint Preux will step in for Cormier in Jones comeback fight on April 23, with an interim title belt on the line. Cormier (17-1) was forced out of the fight with a lower left leg injury. Ovince Saint Preux will face Jon Jones for the interim light heavyweight title Jones previously defeated Cormier via decision in January 2015, but Cormier won the vacant UFC 205-pound belt four months later after the UFC suspended Jones for legal troubles stemming from a car accident in Albuquerque.Jones was reinstated by the UFC last October. He defended the light heavyweight title eight times before his suspension, establishing himself as the top pound-for-pound fighter in MMA. Jon Jones (L) celebrates after defeating Daniel Comier (R) during their light heavyweight title fight The 28-year-old Jones took to social media early on Saturday to state his willingness to fight a replacement opponent at either light heavyweight or heavyweight.Hey, you all know Im not into taking last-minute fights, its not the way me and my trainers do things, said Jones in a post on Instagram. But this last years been real crazy and I feel like I owe my fans so much.UFC, whether youve got a heavyweight, light heavyweight - doesnt matter. Lets keep this main event going. Send em my way.That marks a change in approach for Jones who famously forced UFC 151 to be cancelled in August 2012 when he refused to fight Chael Sonnen on eight days notice after his scheduled opponent Dan Henderson was forced to pull out of their title fight due to injury.At the time, Dana White said: This is probably one of my all-time lows as being president of UFC.The fight against Jones represents a huge opportunity for Saint Preux, who is the UFCs number six ranked light heavyweight contender, but one of only two men among the top eight that Jones has yet to beat. Anthony Johnson is not fit to fight at UFC 197 The other is number two ranked contender Anthony Rumble Johnson, who Jones was scheduled to defend his title against at UFC 187 in May 2015 before he was suspended by the UFC.Johnson appeared to be the natural choice to step in for Cormier but he underwent a dental procedure last week which ruled him out, according to Ariel Helwani of MMAFighting.com. . Gordon reportedly failed another drug test and is facing a one-year ban. Gordon led the NFL in yards receiving last season despite being suspended two games for violating the leagues substance-abuse policy. .com) - Matt Duchene picked up the deciding goal early in the third period and added an assist, as Colorado escaped with a 4-3 victory over Dallas at Pepsi Center. . Mika Zibanejad and Jason Spezza scored in the shootout to lead the Ottawa Senators to a 2-1 victory over Nashville on Saturday night. . Niese pitched seven steady innings on a rainy Tuesday night and Daniel Murphy had three hits to lead New York to a 6-1 victory over the Phillies. . Once again, the third baseman delivered in a big spot. Ramirez kept up his torrid hitting with a two-run homer to help back Wily Peraltas solid start, and the Brewers extended their winning streak to seven with a 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - The NBA has announced a new format for the 2015 Rising Stars Challenge, which will now pit the top first- and second-year players from the United States against international players. NBA assistant coaches will select the 10 U.S. players and 10 international players who will make up the rosters. An assistant coach from the 2015 All- Star game coaching staff, which is yet to be determined, will coach each team. The format replaces the previous one, which lasted three seasons and saw former NBA stars and current TV personalities Charles Barkley, Shaquille ONeal, Grant Hill and Chris Webber draft teams made up of rookies and secondd- year players.dddddddddddd Barkley and ONeal coached against one another in 2012 and 2013, while Hill and Webber matched up last season. The game has gone through a number of overhauls through the years. It debuted in 1994 and tinkered with different formats, including East vs. West, before settling in on Rookies vs. Sophomores. That challenge played from 2000 to 2011, with the Sophomores winning eight of the 12 games. Notable MVP winners of the exhibition include Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant and John Wall. The Rising Stars Challenge will take place on Friday, Feb. 13, two days before the All-Star game, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. ' ' '
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