One man’s misfortune can be another’s opportunity, and Daniel Cormier has been granted the chance to compete for a UFC title for a second consecutive fight.

Cormier (15-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) meets Anthony Johnson (19-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) for the vacant light heavyweight title in UFC 187’s new main event after former champion Jon Jones (21-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) was stripped of the belt and suspended indefinitely due to his alleged involvement in a Sunday hit-and-run accident in Albuquerque, N.M., that left a 25-year-old pregnant woman with a broken arm and wrist.

“DC” already was preparing for a scheduled matchup with Ryan Bader at UFC Fight Night 68 on June 6. However, when news broke about Jones, Cormier said he realized the opportunity to compete at UFC 187 might present itself.

“I followed the social media; people were kind of seeing that it was the fight that would need to happen if there was an opportunity,” Cormier said on FOX Sports 1’s “UFC Tonight” after news of the replacement bout surfaced. “Dana (White) and Lorenzo (Fertitta) called me and they told me right before it went public. I’ve been trying to kind of compose myself and contain myself. You start preparing, I’ve been preparing for my fight with Bader anyways, so I’ve kind of just been shifting my focus a little bit and maybe hoping another opportunity would present itself.”

Cormier challenged Jones for the 205-pound title in January at UFC 182. He lost a unanimous decision in the highly anticipated bout, prior to which the two competitors exchanged many heated words and even engaged in a brawl following a pre-fight press conference.

Although Cormier shares a bitter history with “Bones,” he said he didn’t receive any pleasure out of his misfortunes.

“You don’t kick a guy when he’s down, and it was obviously disappointing,” Cormier said. “I think I’ve stated that time and time again. This whole situation, more than anything, the stuff Jon gets into is disappointing. He has the world at his fingertips and he can’t seem to get out of his own way. Very unfortunate was my initial reaction.”

When asked if he could provide any advice to his former competitor, Cormier said he hopes Jones can “get it together” and come back to the UFC for a rematch after he defeats Johnson for the vacant belt.

“Just get it together – get it together, man,” Cormier said. “There are a lot of people that look up to you and a lot of people that actually want to see him succeed. There’s a lot of people that want to see him succeed. I’ll be waiting for him on the other side with my championship and he can actually challenge me for it.”

Prior to his loss to Jones at UFC 182, Cormier had earned 15 straight victories, including four straight wins under the UFC banner. Johnson is a threat to hand the 36-year-old back-to-back losses, though, because he has won his past nine fights, including six knockouts.

Cormier said he holds Johnson in high regard, but he also sees flaws in his game. Johnson has suffered four career losses and Cormier plans hand him his fifth in UFC 187’s main event, which airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass from Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena.

“‘Rumble’ Johnson’s a fantastic fighter; he has tremendous power and he’s got a confidence about himself right now,” Cormier said. “But I want to tell you guys right now, at the end of the day, Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson is who he is. And at the core of Anthony Johnson, Anthony’s the guy who got submitted by Josh Koscheck. Anthony’s the guy that tapped out before Vitor Belfort had a choke in. At the core of him, he is who he is, and I just have to go out and find that.”

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