by King Hazard
It looks like UFC 165: Jones vs. Gustafsson is set in stone. The September fight card will feature five awesome bouts on PPV, which includes two championship fights. In the main event, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon “Bones” Jones (18-1) will need to defend the strap against No.1 contender in the division Alexander Gustafsson (14-1), nicknamed “The Mauler.” Although Gustafsson was expected to face Gegard Mousasi in April, but due to injury he was not cleared to participate at the event. However, Jones lobbied to fight Gustafsson, who in my opinion already solidified the title shot when he defeated Maurício Rua by unanimous decision on the UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Diaz fight card.
In the co-main, UFC Interim Bantamweight Champion Renan Barao (30-1) faces Eddie Wineland (20-8-1). Barao made his second title defense in February, defeating Michael McDonald by arm triangle choke in the 4th round. Wineland is coming off a win over Brad Pickett by decision at UFC 155.
Two well known former TUF contestants, Matt Mitrione (6-2) and Brendan Schaub (9-3), will face each other in the heavyweight, which could easily be awarded Knock out of the Night. So don’t expect both fighters to be standing on both feet by the third round.
UFC 165 will be held on September 21, 2013, at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
Champ Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson
Champ Renan Barao vs. Eddie Wineland
Matt Mitrione vs. Brendan Schaub
Francis Carmont vs. Constantinos Philippou
Pat Healy vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov
PRELIMINARY CARD (FOX Sports 1, 8 p.m. ET)
Myles Jury vs. Mike Ricci
Ivan Menjivar vs. Norifumi Yamamoto
Chris Clements vs. Stephen Thompson
Mitch Gagnon vs. Dustin Kimura
PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook, 6 p.m. ET)
Renee Forte vs. John Makdessi
Michel Prazeres vs. Jesse Ronson
Alex Caceres vs. Roland Delorme
Nandor Guelmino vs. Daniel Omielanczuk
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