UFC 239 gets underway; Jones, Nunes to defend title belts

The UFC’s biggest show of the summer is underway at T-Mobile Arena.

Jon Jones will defend his light heavyweight title against Brazil’s Thiago Santos in the main event of UFC 239 immediately after Brazilian two-belt champion Amanda Nunes defends her bantamweight title against ex-champion Holly Holm.

Jones and Nunes are widely considered the top two pound-for-pound fighters in mixed martial arts, and both are favored to retain their belts against lively challengers.

The card also includes a lively welterweight showdown between unbeaten Ben Askren and veteran Jorge Masvidal.

Unbeaten prospect Edmen Shahabazyan got the most impressive victory in the early preliminary bouts. The 21-year-old from Glendale, California, obliterated Welsh veteran Jack Marshman in just 72 seconds, finishing with a rear naked choke.

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