Jon Jones retains title after 5-round war with Daniel Cormier

Jon Jones retained the UFC Light Heavyweight title with an exhausting unanimous decision victory over Daniel Cormier at UFC 182 on Saturday night.

It was a five-round war fit for the two finest 205-pounders on the planet as the two men traded the first two frames. Jones used his length to land stinging kicks and elbows at distance, while Cormier dented Jones' beard with vicious dirty boxing and uppercuts from the clinch.

After a third stanza that could have gone either way, Jones took over in the championship rounds, grinding out the challenger along the fence with excellent clinch work and a pair of takedowns. Entering the fight, Cormier had never been taken down. Jones dumped him to the canvas three times during the 25-minute affair.

Following the scrap between the two hated rivals, Jones decided to wear the black hat, and embrace a full heel turn.

When the dust settled, all three judges scored the fight 49-46 Jones.

The champ won't have to wait long to see who he'll face in the Octagon next, as Alexander Gustafsson and Anthony Johnson will stand toe to toe in Stockholm on Jan. 24.