(All physiques subject to change. / Photo via Esther Lin, MMAFighting)
As suspected, UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones will attempt to make his seventh title defense against Glover Teixeira on February 1st at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, as the main event of UFC 169. Newsday confirmed the story, adding the following details:
The UFC typically holds its Super Bowl weekend show in Las Vegas, but since broadcast partner Fox will air the NFL’s premier showcase event, executives wanted both events in the same area. MetLife Stadium hosts Super Bowl XLVIII on Feb. 2, the first time the NFL has held the game outdoors in a cold-weather city. Tickets for UFC 169 will go on sale to the public on Oct. 25.
The UFC’s 2014 Super Bowl weekend event will also feature the heavyweight do-or-die fight between Frank Mir and Alistair Overeem. That matchup was originally slated for next month’s UFC 167: St. Pierre vs. Hendricks event, but the Nevada State Athletic Commission took pity on Mir and recommended that it be pushed back. From UFC.com:
UFC officials announced today that the heavyweight showdown between Frank Mir and Alistair Overeem has been rescheduled to UFC 169 on February 1, 2014.
The move was determined in conjunction with the Nevada State Athletic Commission representatives to provide more time following Frank Mir’s recent August 31st competition.
While there was no indication whatsoever that Mir wouldn’t be fully, medically cleared in time to compete on November 16th, UFC officials and Nevada Commission representatives believed that a short postponement would allow both athletes more time to train for the bout.
Now, if I was a cynic, I’d say something about Mir and/or Reem needing more time to get his/their testosterone levels back into the normal range, but no, I’m not even going to bring that up.
With UFC 167 losing a big main card fight, Ariel Helwani has confirmed that the welterweight bout between Josh Koscheck and Tyron Woodley has been bumped up from the prelims.