WEDNESDAY NEWS DIGEST 3/27: Jon Jones and Amanda Nunes title fights booked for International Fight Week

By Cole Henry, MMATorch Contributor

Dec 29, 2018; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Jon Jones (red gloves) exits the octogon after his victory over Alexander Gustafsson (not pictured) during UFC 232 at The Forum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

UFC 239 gets two major fights

Talk of Jon Jones moving to heavyweight has seemingly existed since he first won the light heavyweight championship. But according to Jones’ own words, we could finally be getting close to seeing that become a reality…

“I don’t think you guys are ready to witness @stipemiocic and I, would July give you all enough time?” Jones tweeted.

Well while that tweet is fun you will have to wait if this is a fight that you want to see. Despite this tweet, and perhaps adding even more evidence to the speculation that Twitter is not the be all end all of the internet, Jones has been booked to compete at UFC 239 but not against Stipe Miocic. He will instead face former middleweight and surging light heavyweight contender, Thiago Santos. Santos will enter the bout with Jones coming off a TKO win over Jan Blachowicz while Jones himself will enter the bout following a recent win over Anthony Smith.

Also, on the card will be the return of former world bantamweight champion, Holly Holm as she attempts to regain her championship from current champion, Amanda Nunes. Nunes has been unstoppable as of late and with a win over Holm, she will have defeated every single bantamweight and featherweight Champion in UFC history.

Analysis: Both of these fights have been rumoured for a while and they make for great additions to the 239 card. Miocic and Jones would have been fun but its also good to see that the UFC isn’t going to clog up another division by allowing the champion to fight in a different weight class.

Henry Cejudo vs. Marlon Moraes for Bantamweight Championship

Much has been speculated at about the bantamweight championship as of late, and more fuel was added to that fire when TJ Dillashaw vacated the belt due to a PED issue. But it looks like we finally have some clarity. Henry Cejudo will be making his return to bantamweight in an effort to win his second World Championship and standing across from him will be Marlon Moraes. Of course, this leaves guys like Pedro Munhoz out in the cold but that’s just the way it goes sometimes. Cejudo and Moraes will headline the upcoming UFC 238 card that also features a Flyweight Championship between Valentina Shevchenko and Jessie Eye.

Paige Van Zant to commentate for M1 Global USA

Paige Van Zant will join Sean Wheelock as the new lead color commentator for M1 Global USA. Van Zant is currently on the shelf with a broken arm but will retain some degree of visibility here with her commentating. This certainly seems like an opportunity for Van Zant to get come practice so that she can eventually hold the same job in the UFC.

Other Fight Bookings

Mike Perry vs. Alex Oliveira at UFC on ESPN 3                               

Neil Magny vs. Elizeu Zaleski at UFC Rochester

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