Just a few weeks after his win against Anthony Smith at UFC 235, Jon Jones’ next fight has been announced.
ESPN reports that Jones (now 24-1) will go up against Thiago Santos (21-6) in a fight for the 205-lb title at UFC 239, which will take place in Las Vegas on July 6. The bout will serve as the main event of the evening.
Jones’ success has been marred by controversy and stripped titles surrounding failed drug tests and a hit-and-run from 2015. Trace amounts of Turinabol have still recently been found in his system, but because the results were most likely residual amounts from when Jones originally tested positive for the substance, he has been able to continue his UFC career and retain his title.
The co-main event of the evening will see former bantamweight champion Holly Holm (12-4) challenging current champion Amanda Nunes (17-4) for the bantamweight title. Holm first earned the title when she became the first fighter to defeat Ronda Rousey in a huge upset at UFC 193 in 2015, then subsequently lost it to Miesha Tate. Nunes (who is also the current featherweight champion) earned the bantamweight title by defeating Miesha Tate at UFC 200 and has since defended it three times.
