Opening odds for UFC 187's new Daniel Cormier vs. Anthony Johnson headliner

Anthony “Rumble” Johnson

The early odds favor a recent title challenger in next month’s UFC 187 main event.

With now-ex champ Jon Jones (21-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) stripped of the title and facing an indefinite suspension following his involvement in a Sunday hit-and-run accident, the title is up for grabs at UFC 187.

Anthony Johnson (19-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC), Jones’ originally scheduled opponent for the May 23 pay-per-view event, which takes place at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena, now meets recent title challenger Daniel Cormier (15-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) for the vacant belt.

And, according to the early odds, Cormier was a 1.5-1 (-150) favorite over Johnson (+136). Money quickly came in on Johnson, who was a slightly smaller (+127) underdog by early this morning.

Cormier, who’s ranked No. 3 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA light-heavyweight rankings, suffered a decision loss to Jones earlier this year. It was the 36-year-old Olympic wrestler’s first loss in MMA, where he opened his career in 2009 and won his first 15 fights while competing at heavyweight and then light heavyweight.

He now meets No. 2-ranked Johnson, a former welterweight who left the UFC and reinvented himself in the heavier weight classes on the regional scene. Since his return to the octagon this past year, the 31-year-old striker has posted a decision victory over Phil Davis and recent first-round knockouts of Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Alexander Gustafsson. Johnson has won nine straight fights (six via knockout) since he missed weight and suffered a submission loss to middleweight Vitor Belfort at UFC 142, which concluded his first UFC stint.

So who are you favoring in UFC 187’s new headliner? Cast your ballot below.

And for more on UFC 187, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.