Referee Keith Peterson Draws UFC 159 Headliner Between Jon Jones, Chael Sonnen

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Keith Peterson will referee the UFC 159 main event between Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen, Sherdog.com Wednesday confirmed with the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board.

Peterson will also oversee a preliminary bantamweight bout pitting Johnny Bedford against Erik Perez, according to Nick Lembo, legal counsel to the NJSACB. UFC 159 takes place next Saturday at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., and will also showcase a middleweight showdown between Michael Bisping and Alan Belcher.

Herb Dean will referee that pay-per-view co-headliner, along with a lightweight showdown between Pat Healy and Jim Miller. Meanwhile, Eric Colon, Michael DePasquale, Sue Sanidad, Jose Tabora, Tony Tamburrino, Dave Tirelli and Cardo Urso will serve as judges for the April 27 event.

Additionally, Kevin Mulhall will oversee Roy Nelson’s heavyweight collision with Cheick Kongo, while Dan Miragliotta has drawn a 205-pound showdown between Phil Davis and Vinny Magalhaes. Gasper Oliver will serve as the event’s fifth referee and has been charged with officiating undercard bouts pitting Sheila Gaffa against Sara McMann and Kurt Holobaugh against Steven Siler.