UFC 247 Preview: Can Jon Jones be stopped?
Need-to-know info
Date: Saturday, Feb. 8
Time: Early prelims - 6:30 p.m. ET
Prelims - 8:00 p.m.
Main Card - 10:00 p.m.
Venue: Toyota Center, Houston
TV: Prelims - ESPN (USA), TSN (Canada)
Main Card - PPV via ESPN+ (USA), PPV (Canada)
Jones (c) vs. Reyes - Light heavyweight title
Light heavyweight champion Jon Jones looks to continue his dominance in the 205-pound division when he defends his title against Dominick Reyes.
Jones (25-1) carries an 18-fight unbeaten streak into Saturday's main event. The 32-year-old hasn't competed since a split-decision victory over Thiago Santos at UFC 239 in July.
The Jackson Wink MMA Academy standout hasn't faced an undefeated fighter since he fought Daniel Cormier at UFC 182 in January 2015. "Bones" will have a seven-and-a-half-inch reach advantage over Reyes in this championship bout.
Reyes (12-0) has finished nine of his 12 career opponents, including a first-round TKO finish over former middleweight champion Chris Weidman at UFC Boston in October.
Currently ranked No. 4 in the light heavyweight rankings, the 30-year-old has never competed in a five-round fight.
Shevchenko (c) vs. Chookagian - Women's flyweight title
The co-main event pits women's flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko against Katlyn Chookagian.
Shevchenko (18-3) remains undefeated at 125 pounds and is set to defend her title for the third time. "The Bullet" most recently picked up a unanimous decision victory over Liz Carmouche at UFC Uruguay in August, avenging her 2010 loss to "Girl-Rilla."
The 31-year-old has spent her entire camp at Tiger Muay Thai in Thailand and will look to earn her 12th stoppage victory.
Chookagian (13-2) has won five of her last six fights, including a unanimous decision victory over Jennifer Maia at UFC 244 in November.
The 31-year old has never been finished in a career spanning 22 amateur and professional fights. The native of New Jersey will have both height and reach advantages in this title fight.
Lewis vs. Latifi - Main card heavyweight bout
Former heavyweight title challenger Derrick Lewis looks for a second straight victory when he battles Ilir Latifi. "The Black Beast" snapped a two-fight skid by defeating Blagoy Ivanov at UFC 244 in November.
Lewis (22-7, NC) boasts 18 career wins by knockout and has only gone the distance three times.
Latifi (14-7) moves up to the heavyweight division for the first time in his UFC career. The 36-year-old has suffered back-to-back losses against Corey Anderson and Volkan Oezdemir.
Standing just 5-foot-8, "The Sledgehammer" is one of the smallest heavyweights in the division. Latifi will be looking for his first win since February 2018.
Main Card
- Jon Jones (c) vs. Dominick Reyes - Light heavyweight title
- Valentina Shevchenko (c) vs. Katlyn Chookagian - Women's flyweight title
- Juan Adams vs. Justin Tafa
- Mirsad Bektic vs. Dan Ige
- Derrick Lewis vs. Ilir Latifi
Prelims
- Trevin Giles vs. Antonio Arroyo
- Alex Morono vs. Kalinn Williams
- Lauren Murphy vs. Andrea Lee
- Miles Johns vs. Mario Bautista
- Journey Newson vs. Domingo Pilarte
- Andre Ewell vs. Jonathan Martinez
- Austin Lingo vs. Youssef Zalal