Jon Jones vs Thiago Santos and main card exclusive coverage

Jon ‘Bones’ Jones puts his UFC light heavyweight title on the line against Thiago Santos this weekend and talkSPORT will have exclusive coverage of the huge fight night.

talkSPORT has secured radio rights to UFC 239 as we bring you exclusive MMA coverage for the first time on the station..

Two-time undisputed champ Jones, who retained his belt by beating Anthony Smith in March, returns to Las Vegas to defend his crown against veteran Brazilian Santos.

Amanda Nunes and Holly Holm – the only two to beat Ronda Rousey during her glittering UFC career – are also set to go head-to-head in a mega bout in the women’s bantamweight division.

Jorge Masvidal and Luke Rockhold are on the fight card as well on what should be a blockbuster night of Ultimate Fighting Championship action.

talkSPORT will bring you all the thrills and spills from Vegas live this weekend and here’s how you can catch it all.

UFC 239: When is it and where?

The event is scheduled for the early hours of Sunday, July 7 UK time.

The preliminary bouts will start at around 11:30pm UK time on Saturday, July 6 with the main fight expected to get going at around 2am.

It is being held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada with a capacity crowd of 20,000 fans expected to be in attendance.

UFC 239: Live on talkSPORT

Full commentary from Las Vegas will be exclusively live on talkSPORT, with our coverage getting underway at 9pm.

Adam Catterall and Nick Peet will bring you all the build-up and live action and to tune in just click here for the live stream or click the radio player below.

You can also listen through the talkSPORT App, on DAB Digital Radio or on MW 1053 or 1089.

For more information about how to listen LIVE on talkSPORT click here.

UFC 239: What has been said?

Jon Jones: “I think [anyone] could knock me out if I put my hands behind my back and let you punch me in the face! I think every man and woman in this audience is strong enough to knock me out if I let them punch me squarely in the chin.

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“Every UFC fighter I’ve ever fought has had the power to knock me out. It’s about being skilled enough to land that punch. Thus far, no one’s been skilled enough to land that punch, and I don’t think anything is going to change on Saturday night.

“MMA is an endurance sport, it’s a 25-minute endurance sport. I believe in the first two rounds his muscles will work to his advantage. Anything after that, he’s carrying extra weight and I think it will ultimately work against him.

“I’m actually a lot lighter than I normally am (in fight week),” he continued. “My idea was I’m fighting a guy moving up from middleweight, so I don’t need to be any more powerful, or stronger, for this fight. I need to be able to move really well and have some serious endurance.

“So I believe if it goes anywhere past two rounds, the fight is definitely going to quickly move in my favour, but I also believe I can finish him in the first two rounds as well, so let’s just see how it all plays out.”

UFC 239: Full card

Main Card

Jon Jones (c) vs Thiago Santos, light heavyweight

Amanda Nunes (c) vs Holly Holm, women’s bantamweight

Jorge Masvidal vs Ben Askren, welterweight

Luke Rockhold vs Jan Blachowicz, light heavyweight

Diego Sanchez vs Michael Chiesa, welterweight

Preliminary Card

Gilbert Melendez vs Arnold Allen, featherweight

Marlon Vera vs Nohelin Hernandez, bantamweight

Claudia Gadelha vs Randa Markos, women’s strawweight

Alejandro Perez vs Yadong Song, bantamweight

Edmen Shahbazyan vs Jack Marshman, middleweight

Ismail Naurdiev vs Chance Rencountre, welterweight

Julia Avila vs Pannie Kianzad, women’s bantamweight