Jones-Santos, Nunes-Holm to headline UFC 239
UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones will make his next title defense against Thiago Santos at UFC 239 on July 6 in Las Vegas, UFC president Dana White told ESPN.
The 205-pound bout will headline the pay-per-view event, which will take place at T-Mobile Arena. Additional sources confirmed bout agreements have not been signed, but all parties have verbally agreed to the fight.
Additionally, dual-division champion Amanda Nunes will defend her 135-pound bantamweight title against Holly Holm in the co-main event of UFC 239. Verbal agreements are in place for that fight as well, sources said.
Former champions Tyron Woodley and Robbie Lawler will headline UFC Fight Night on June 29 in Minneapolis, UFC president Dana White told ESPN. The two previously met in 2016, when Woodley claimed the welterweight belt.
Jones (24-1) teased fans with a public challenge of former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic on social media on Wednesday, but that matchup was never seriously discussed, per sources. Jones is coming off a dominant title defense against Anthony Smith at UFC 235. The Santos bout will mark his third appearance in seven months.
Santos (21-6), of Rio de Janeiro, is a former middleweight who has surged to title contention behind light heavyweight victories over Eryk Anders, Jimi Manuwa and Jan Blachowicz.
Nunes (17-4) is a three-time defending bantamweight champion. She moved up to the 145-pound featherweight division in December and upset Cris “Cyborg” Justino in a first-round knockout for the UFC’s featherweight championship. She trains out of American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida.
Holm (12-4), of Albuquerque, New Mexico, is coming off a decision win against Megan Anderson last June. She was scheduled to fight Aspen Ladd in March, but that bout was ultimately canceled and Ladd has since been rescheduled.