Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White told the media at Thursday’s UFC 131 press conference, that he expects UFC light heavyweight champ Jon ‘Bones’ Jones (13-1) to defend his title against Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson (32-6) in the main event of UFC 135 this September.
Last week Jones said he’d be fighting Jackson next, but could not confirm a date or venue for the fight.
White cleared up all speculation by telling the gathered media that the fight is targeted for Sept. 24 in Denver, Colorado in the headliner for UFC 135.
Jones had been scheduled to meet Rashad Evans at UFC 133 but pulled out of the bout over concerns over a lingering injury to his hand. In the end, his physician gave him clearance to return to fighting without having surgery, with the announcement coming too late as Evans was given a new opponent in Phil Davis. Jones has won four straight, including winning the UFC title from former champ Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua last March, since his disqualification loss to Matt Hamill at the TUF 10 Finale.
Jackson earned a unanimous decision over Hamill just last month in the main event of UFC 130. The win was ‘Rampage’s’ second straight and fourth in five bouts. Previous to his most recent win, he earned a controversial split decision win over Lyoto Machida at UFC 123, and dropped a decision to Evans at UFC 114. After Jackson’s win over Hamill, the fighter noted an injury to his hand, which apparently won’t be a concern for the fighter to prepare for a September bout.