UFC 239
UFC 239 was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) that took place on July 6, 2019, at T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas metropolitan area.[1] The event featured 12 bouts, headlined by a light heavyweight championship fight between defending champion Jon Jones and challenger Thiago Santos, with the co-main event pitting women's bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes against former champion Holly Holm.[2] Broadcast on pay-per-view following ESPN-televised prelims, UFC 239 drew significant attention for its high-profile title defenses and standout performances.[3] In the main event, Jon Jones retained his light heavyweight title via a controversial split decision victory over Thiago Santos after five rounds, with Jones' leg kicks and control offsetting Santos' powerful striking that reportedly caused Jones a knee injury.[2] The co-main event saw Amanda Nunes solidify her status as a dominant force by knocking out Holly Holm in the first round with a high kick, marking her third bantamweight title defense.[1] A highlight of the card was welterweight Jorge Masvidal's record-setting five-second knockout of Ben Askren in the welterweight bout, the fastest finish in UFC history, achieved via a flying knee.[4] Other notable results included Jan Błachowicz's second-round TKO of Luke Rockhold in the light heavyweight division, earning him a future title shot.[2] The event's undercard featured victories for fighters like Claudia Gadelha over Randa Markos and Marlon Vera over Nohelin Hernandez, contributing to a night of competitive action that underscored the UFC's premier status in MMA.[1] UFC 239 generated substantial revenue, with a reported gate of $6,063,707 and strong pay-per-view buys, reflecting its appeal amid the promotion's growing ESPN partnership.[5]Event Details
Date and Venue
UFC 239 was held on Saturday, July 6, 2019, at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, a suburb adjacent to the Las Vegas Strip.[1][6] The venue, which opened on April 6, 2016, features a flexible seating configuration that accommodates up to 20,000 spectators for mixed martial arts events, making it a key location for high-profile UFC pay-per-view cards.[7][8] The event attracted an attendance of 18,358, reflecting strong fan interest in the double-title fight headliner.[9][10] Broadcast in Eastern Daylight Time, the early preliminary card began at 6:15 p.m. EDT, followed by the preliminary card at 8:00 p.m. EDT, and the main card at 10:00 p.m. EDT.[11][3] This scheduling aligned with the arena's role as UFC's primary Las Vegas home since 2017, hosting multiple sold-out spectacles that underscore its status as a premier combat sports destination.[8][12]Promotion and Broadcast
UFC 239 was promoted by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the leading mixed martial arts organization, as part of its flagship numbered pay-per-view series held during International Fight Week.[1] The event's main card aired exclusively on pay-per-view via ESPN+ in the United States, priced at $59.99 for subscribers or $79.99 bundled with an ESPN+ annual subscription, marking a key milestone in the UFC's partnership with ESPN following their 2018 media rights deal.[3] Preliminary bouts were broadcast on ESPN and ESPN Deportes starting at 8:00 p.m. ET, while early prelims began at 6:15 p.m. ET on UFC Fight Pass and ESPN+.[13] In the United Kingdom, UFC 239 marked the promotion's first pay-per-view offering on BT Sport Box Office, available for £19.95 on top of the standard BT Sport subscription, a move that sparked controversy among fans accustomed to included coverage.[14] Marketing campaigns emphasized the blockbuster double title fight main card, billing it as a showcase of the UFC's top champions in Jon Jones and Amanda Nunes defending their belts. Promotional materials, including the official event poster released in May 2019, prominently featured Jones and Nunes alongside challengers Thiago Santos and Holly Holm to build anticipation for the summer spectacle.[15] ESPN+ ran targeted advertising spots, such as "UFC 239: It's On," highlighting the high-stakes matchups to drive subscriptions and purchases.[16] The event's positioning as a premier summer pay-per-view was reinforced by its alignment with International Fight Week activities, including fan experiences and media events in Las Vegas. Viewership metrics underscored the event's draw, with the ESPN prelims averaging 1.145 million viewers, the third-highest for a UFC prelim card on ESPN in 2019 up to that point—establishing UFC 239 as one of the promotion's strongest non-McGregor-led offerings in 2019.[17] Specific pay-per-view buy figures were not publicly disclosed due to the integrated ESPN+ model, but the strong preliminary numbers indicated robust global interest. Sponsorships played a central role in the event's production, with Reebok serving as the official outfitter providing branded apparel and fight kits for athletes under the UFC's exclusive uniform policy. Modelo Especial acted as the official beer sponsor, integrating branding into broadcast graphics, octagon signage, and promotional activations to enhance visibility during the event.[18]Fight Card
Main Card
The main card of UFC 239, broadcast on pay-per-view via ESPN+ starting at 10:00 p.m. ET on July 6, 2019, featured four bouts highlighting elite matchups across multiple divisions, including two championship defenses.[1] These fights were selected for their competitive stakes and star power, drawing significant anticipation from fans and analysts.[19] The pay-per-view opener was a light heavyweight bout between Jan Błachowicz and Luke Rockhold, contested at the 205-pound limit.[2] This non-title fight pitted the Polish striker Błachowicz against the American former middleweight champion Rockhold, known for his grappling and kickboxing background.[13] Next was a welterweight matchup at 170 pounds between Jorge Masvidal and Ben Askren.[1] Masvidal, known for his striking power, met Askren, a wrestling specialist and former Olympian, in what was billed as a stylistic contrast.[20] Serving as the co-main event, women's bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes defended her 135-pound title against former champion Holly Holm in a scheduled five-round bout.[19] Nunes, holding dual-division supremacy at the time, faced Holm, a former boxing champion seeking to reclaim the belt she once won via upset. The main event capped the card with light heavyweight champion Jon Jones defending his 205-pound title against Thiago Santos in another five-round championship fight.[1] Jones, the long-reigning division kingpin, encountered Santos, a knockout artist on a winning streak, in a test of technical mastery versus raw power.[13]Preliminary Card
The preliminary card for UFC 239 consisted of three bouts broadcast on ESPN and ESPN+, airing from 8:00 p.m. ET on July 6, 2019, following the early preliminary card on UFC Fight Pass and ESPN+.[1][13] These mid-card matchups showcased a mix of veteran fighters and rising prospects, contributing to the event's overall depth and serving as a bridge to the main card's high-profile title fights.[19] Each bout was scheduled for three five-minute rounds, adhering to standard non-title format rules under the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts.[1] The fights spanned multiple weight divisions, highlighting the promotion's diverse roster:| Weight Class | Bout |
|---|---|
| Welterweight (170 lbs) | Diego Sanchez vs. Michael Chiesa |
| Featherweight (145 lbs) | Arnold Allen vs. Gilbert Melendez |
| Bantamweight (135 lbs) | Marlon Vera vs. Nohelin Hernandez |
Early Preliminary Card
The early preliminary card for UFC 239 featured five bouts streamed exclusively on UFC Fight Pass, marking the entry point for viewers to the event held on July 6, 2019, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. These opening fights began at 6:15 p.m. ET and showcased a mix of emerging talents and veterans across different weight classes, setting the tone for the night's action without delving into higher-stakes narratives.[13][1] The matchups highlighted prospects vying for breakthroughs alongside seasoned competitors, with particular attention on undefeated middleweight Edmen Shahbazyan, a 21-year-old rising star entering his second UFC appearance after a dominant debut earlier in 2019, generating significant hype as a potential future contender in the division.[21] In the welterweight division, Ismail Naurdiev, a 22-year-old Austrian prospect fresh off an upset victory in his prior outing, faced Chance Rencountre, who was making his promotional debut after competing on the regional scene. The women's bantamweight bout pitted debutante Julia Avila against Pannie Kianzad, a former Ultimate Fighter contestant stepping in on short notice to test the newcomer in a pivotal early-career matchup. Additional fights included a bantamweight clash between Song Yadong and Alejandro Perez, and a women's strawweight bout between Claudia Gadelha and Randa Markos.[22][23]| Bout | Weight Class | Fighters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Women's Bantamweight (135 lbs) | Julia Avila vs. Pannie Kianzad |
| 2 | Welterweight (170 lbs) | Ismail Naurdiev vs. Chance Rencountre |
| 3 | Middleweight (185 lbs) | Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Jack Marshman |
| 4 | Bantamweight (135 lbs) | Alejandro Perez vs. Song Yadong |
| 5 | Women's Strawweight (115 lbs) | Claudia Gadelha vs. Randa Markos |