Just two days after Jon Jones was cleared to defend his UFC light heavyweight title against streaking contender Anthony Smith at UFC 235 on Mar. 2 live on pay-per-view (PPV) from inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, the first official event poster has dropped.
Check it out above courtesy of UFC.
The main event of the evening will be a 205-pound clash between Jones and Smith. Jones, who made his return to the Octagon at UFC 232 this past December en route to defeating Alexander Gustafsson via third-round TKO, is trying to lock down his ninth career UFC title defense. Smith, on the other hand, is trying to parlay a 3-0 record (all finishes) at 205 pounds into an upset victory over one of the best pound-for-pound fighters of all time.
In the co-main event, current UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley will try to lock down his fourth-straight title defense when he takes on 170-pound phenom Kamaru Usman. “Chosen One” is coming off a second-round submission victory over Darren Till back at UFC 228 this past September and hasn’t lost since dropping a decision to Rory MacDonald in 2014. As for Usman, he will put his 9-0 UFC record on the line against one of the best welterweights of all time. Should “Nigerian Nightmare” defeat Woodley it would be one of the most dominant journeys to a title in division history.
Also featured on the main card is the Octagon debut of undefeated welterweight contender Ben Askren, who was acquired via trade for Demetrious Johnson back in October. The former ONE Championship and Bellator MMA king will be making his debut against former UFC champion Robbie Lawler. “Ruthless” is coming off a tough decision loss to Rafael dos Anjos back at UFC on FOX 26 over one year ago and desperately needs a victory to stay in the title hunt in 2019.
Not featured on the above poster but expected to compete at UFC 235 is former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt, featherweight contenders Jeremy Stephens and Zabit Magomedsharipov, UFC veteran Diego Sanchez, former UFC interim title challenger Ovince Saint Preux, and CM Punk killer Mickey Gall.
Can you say stacked?
For complete UFC 235 fight card news click here.