[Event] UFC 239 - Jones vs. Santos - Jul 6

Dent · **Posted:** Mon Jul 01, 2019 7:01 pm

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UFC 239: Jones vs. Santos is an upcoming mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that will be held on July 6, 2019 at T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, United States.

Fight card

Main card

Light Heavyweight Jon Jones (c) vs. Thiago Santos For the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
Women's Bantamweight Amanda Nunes (c) vs. Holly Holm For the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship.
Welterweight Jorge Masvidal vs. Ben Askren
Light Heavyweight Jan Błachowicz vs. Luke Rockhold
Welterweight Diego Sanchez vs. Michael Chiesa

Preliminary card (ESPN)

Featherweight Gilbert Melendez vs. Arnold Allen
Bantamweight Marlon Vera vs. Nohelin Hernandez
Women's Strawweight Claudia Gadelha vs. Randa Markos
Bantamweight Alejandro Pérez vs. Yadong Song

Early Preliminary card (UFC Fight Pass)

Middleweight Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Jack Marshman
Welterweight Ismail Naurdiev vs. Chance Rencountre
Women's Bantamweight Julia Avila vs. Pannie Kianzad

Background

A UFC Light Heavyweight Championship bout between current two-time champion Jon Jones and Thiago Santos is expected to serve as the event headliner.

A UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship bout between the current champion Amanda Nunes (also current UFC Women's Featherweight Champion) and former champion Holly Holm is expected to serve as the event co-headliner.

A bout between former UFC Heavyweight title challenger Francis Ngannou and former UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos was scheduled to take place at this event. The matchup was originally scheduled to take place in September 2017 at UFC 215, but dos Santos pulled out of that event, citing a failed drug test. However, it was reported on May 21, that the bout was being moved to headline UFC on ESPN 3 after former UFC Welterweight ChampionTyron Woodley was forced to pull out of his rematch against also former champion Robbie Lawler due to a hand injury.

A featherweight bout between former Strikeforce and WEC Lightweight Champion (as well as former UFC Lightweight Championship challenger) Gilbert Melendez and Arnold Allen has been scheduled for the event. The matchup was originally scheduled to take place in November 2018 at The Ultimate Fighter: Heavy Hitters Finale, however Melendez pulled out of the fight citing an injury.

A bantamweight bout between The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America bantamweight winner Alejandro Pérez and Yadong Song is scheduled to take place at this event. The matchup was originally scheduled to take place in March 2019 at UFC 235, but Song pulled out of the fight for undisclosed reasons.

Sean O'Malley was expected to face Marlon Vera at the event. However, O'Malley announced his withdraw from the bout on June 21 due a failed test for ostarine. The Nevada State Athletic Commission decided to suspend him due to the failed test, however the United States Anti Doping Association USADA will not impose any further sanctions. The ostarine in his system was likely residual from his previously failed test prior to UFC 229. O'Malley was replaced by newcomer Nohelin Hernandez.

Melissa Gatto was scheduled to face Julia Avila at the event. However, Gatto was removed from the card on June 24 for undisclosed reasons and replaced by returning veteran Pannie Kianzad.

Jul 2 - Updated fight card & background

[Event] UFC 239 - Jones vs. Santos - Jul 6

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