UFC 239, International Fight Week’s pay-per-view, has its main and co-main event. Jon Jones will defend his title against Thiago Santos, and Amanda Nunes will defend her bantamweight belt against Holly Holm.
Both additions to UFC 239 were announced by Dana White on ESPN.
Jon Jones has been busy since returning from suspension, having fought twice since his latest suspension ended in October of last year. Now he’ll look to defend his newly re-acquired title for the second time against Brazilian dynamo Thiago Santos.
Thiago Santos is one of the most active fighters in the UFC, performing six times since the start of 2018. “Marreta” is 3-0 since moving up to light heavyweight, knocking out Jimi Manuwa and Jan Blachowicz on that run.
This fight is announced the same day that Jones was teasing a superfight with former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic.
I don’t think you guys are ready to witness @stipemiocic and I, would July give you all enough time?
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) March 27, 2019
Now we know, Jones is booked for July.
Amanda Nunes is on a quest to be known as the greatest female fighter of all time (if she isn’t already). Submitting Meisha Tate to win the bantamweight title in 2016, Nunes has defended her title three times, including against current flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko and former champion Ronda Rousey. She then went up in went to win the featherweight title against Cris Cyborg before moving back down to defend her bantamweight belt this summer.
Holm is a former champion herself, but is 2-4 since winning the belt. The former boxer most recently defeated Megan Anderson last June before a reported bout with Aspen Ladd fizzled out.
The two title fights join Luke Rockhold vs. Jan Blachowicz as the three fights linked to the card. UFC 239 takes place on July 6 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
