The UFC light heavyweight title will be up for grabs when the gate shuts on Saturday night at UFC 239 in Las Vegas. The reigning champion and (essentially) unbeaten mixed martial arts great Jon Jones will take on 205 pound newcomer Thiago Santos. The two have taken dissimilar paths to headlining International Fight Week, but both will have 25 minutes to secure glory on Saturday night.

And New or And Still?

After completing his first title defense of the year against Anthony Smith in March, Jones looks for the tenth successful title defense of his career. The rapid activity of Jones has seemed to go unnoticed.

Jon Jones Thiago Santos Highlights

Thiago Santos Fighter Statistics. Something that many are overlooking is Thiago Santos’ losses. Although there are only six of them, there seems to be a repeating occurrence; five of his six losses are in the first round. Some stats are pointless and lazy, but this one seems to hold substance.

1. We take a look at controversial fights and decide whether they are truly worthy of the term 'robbery.'
2. Thiago Santos vowed to upset the odds as he weighed in ahead of his UFC 239 showdown with light-heavyweight great Jon Jones. The Brazilian will challenge the UFC superstar in the main event at the.
3. UFC 239: Jon Jones vs Thiago Santos. The first-round went to the challenger, who worked the legs of Jones from the very outset of their meeting. He also knocked out Jones’ mouthpiece, thus displaying his power early in the contest. Jon was happy to let the first-round slip by and worked on his distance management.

If UFC 239 goes as planned, @JonnyBones will have fought in 3 PPV Main Events within 7 PPV events. He will be the first to do so in the newer era of the UFC. Hell of a feat.

— Rizz (@RizzMMA) May 3, 2019

For being 32 years old and enduring the multiple null periods that he has, the pace that he is fighting at is remarkable. The ongoing, never ending chatter of Jones moving to heavyweight is alive and well. Before he leaves light heavyweight (if it all), there are a few fighters at 205 pounds that Jones needs to face. Enter Thiago Santos.

Even as a +500 betting underdog, Thiago Santos isn’t to be overlooked. Since moving up to light heavyweight, he is 3-0 and has earned $150,000 in performance bonuses. After a brutal third round finish against Jan Blachowicz earlier this year, Santos became a clear cut title challenger. Santos possesses glaring similarities to the latest title challenger in Anthony Smith. Both moved up in weight and found themselves a home by doing so. Similar to Smith, Santos has never been in the cage longer than 15 minutes. Jones seemed well aware of that against Smith and we should expect more of the same against Santos. There is one beaming difference, though: Santos beat Smith… in the second round. He looks to be the first man to have his hand raised against Jon Jones (sorry, Matt Hamill).

Dana White said on @ESPNLosAngeles radio he’s working with the Nevada State Athletic Commission to get Jon Jones’ only loss, DQ (illegal downward elbows) to Matt Hamill overturned. #UFC239

— Omar Villa- (@ohmar762) June 24, 2019

Jon Jones vs. Thiago Santos
Fighter Statistics

Something that many are overlooking is Thiago Santos’ losses. Although there are only six of them, there seems to be a repeating occurrence; five of his six losses are in the first round. Some stats are pointless and lazy, but this one seems to hold substance. That’s about 83% of his losses that have come in the first round. Jones has only three first round finishes in the UFC, though.

Another statistic that gets the brain churning is Thiago Santos has never won more than four consecutive fights in the UFC. Prior to the four fight streak he is currently riding, Santos has been on a four fight win streak twice. Both times he failed to push that to five. This will be his third attempt at a five fight win streak in the UFC with his most daunting task ahead.

This will be Jon Jones’ fourth title fight in Las Vegas. His previous three all ended in unanimous decision.

UFC 239 is on Saturday night and with two championship bouts, the expectations are at a towering height. Will Jon Jones retain his perennial GOAT status or will Santos be able to do what no man has ever done?

Featured image:
Embed from Getty Images

Jon Jones Thiago Santos Fight On Youtube

Thiago Santos suffered some painful knee injuries early in his light heavyweight title fight against Jon Jones at UFC 239 but was still able to go the full five rounds before losing via split decision.

An MRI after the fight showed that he tore his the ACL, MCL, PCL, and meniscus in his left knee. He also re-injured his right knee and underwent surgery on both knees days after UFC 239.

Santos shared a brutal update this week on his recovery, saying he is in a wheelchair a lot, he can’t sleep or eat correctly because of the medications that he’s on, and the he fears going to the bathroom because the walk is so painful:

Jones saw this update and tweeted his support:

Jon Jones Thiago Santos Full Fight

Fighters are incredibly brave and strong people and this is just more proof of that. The next time you think of booing during a fight, just don’t.