Jones-Gustafsson will go down at UFC 165. Photo via Zuffa/Getty Images.
Jon Jones will put his UFC belt on the line against Alexander Gustafsson in Toronto at UFC 165. The UFC announced the information on its website on Thursday, and the fight has already has a set date: Sept. 21.
After knocking out Chael Sonnen at UFC 159, the light heavyweight heavyweight champion will now compete in Toronto’s Air Canada Centre for the event.
Gustafsson comes into the fight with six consecutive wins in the organization, and should have given a UFC welcome to Gegard Mousasi in April, but a cut in the eyebrow canceled the duel. The win over former champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in December 2012, then, was enough to grant him the title shot.
Lyoto Machida was the leading contender to face Jones, but the Brazilian was slated to represent the country at UFC 163 in a fight against Phil Davis. If Lyoto wins this challenge in August, the UFC may give him another shot at the belt, since the fighter has the No. 1 spot in the light heavyweight ranking behind the champion.
