Jones, ‘Rampage’ Agree to Meet in UFC 135 Headliner
Mike Whitman Jun 15, 2011
A rumored UFC light heavyweight title bout between champion
Jon
Jones and top contender Quinton
Jackson is now nearly official for UFC
135.
The UFC announced Wednesday that both men have verbally agreed to square off in the main event of the Sept. 24 card at the Pepsi Center in Denver. The show is also expected to feature a welterweight scrap between Matt Hughes and Diego Sanchez, as well as a heavyweight tilt pitting Ben Rothwell against Mark Hunt.
Jones (Pictured) was last seen dominating Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 128, snatching the Brazilian’s UFC belt with a third-round TKO. The new champ’s first title defense was scheduled to take place Aug. 6 at UFC 133, but “Bones” was forced to withdraw from that bout due to a thumb injury.
Jones has yet to be tested in his UFC career, the 23-year-old’s only loss having come via accidental disqualification in 2009. Since that misstep, the native New Yorker has won four straight bouts, finishing Rua, Brandon Vera, Vladimir Matyushenko and Ryan Bader.
Jackson, 32, a former UFC champ in his own right, has won four out of five starts since dropping his belt to Forrest Griffin in 2008. Following a decision loss to Rashad Evans in May 2010, Jackson has earned back-to-back nods from the judges, first narrowly outpointing Lyoto Machida in November and then routing Matt Hamill on May 28.
The UFC announced Wednesday that both men have verbally agreed to square off in the main event of the Sept. 24 card at the Pepsi Center in Denver. The show is also expected to feature a welterweight scrap between Matt Hughes and Diego Sanchez, as well as a heavyweight tilt pitting Ben Rothwell against Mark Hunt.
Jones (Pictured) was last seen dominating Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 128, snatching the Brazilian’s UFC belt with a third-round TKO. The new champ’s first title defense was scheduled to take place Aug. 6 at UFC 133, but “Bones” was forced to withdraw from that bout due to a thumb injury.
Jones has yet to be tested in his UFC career, the 23-year-old’s only loss having come via accidental disqualification in 2009. Since that misstep, the native New Yorker has won four straight bouts, finishing Rua, Brandon Vera, Vladimir Matyushenko and Ryan Bader.
Jackson, 32, a former UFC champ in his own right, has won four out of five starts since dropping his belt to Forrest Griffin in 2008. Following a decision loss to Rashad Evans in May 2010, Jackson has earned back-to-back nods from the judges, first narrowly outpointing Lyoto Machida in November and then routing Matt Hamill on May 28.
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