Even though the event is still seven months away, a location is already being targeted for UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones’ next title defense against Chael Sonnen.
MMA Weekly reports that New Jersey is the likely candidate to host the event, which takes place after “Bones” and Sonnen coach season 17 of The Ultimate Fighter. Dana White told MMA Weekly:
(TUF 17) premieres in January and then we’re talking right now – this isn’t etched in stone – but we’re talking about New Jersey for the Jones fight.
White confirmed that next season’s TUF finale event will take place at the same venue, but the pay-per-view event pitting Jones against Sonnen will move to the East Coast.
Jones won the title from Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 128, which was hosted at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Sonnen has fought in “The Garden State” a handful of times throughout his 40-fight career, though he has not competed there since July 2007 where he won a matchup against Amar Suloev under the Bodog Fight banner.
Does New Jersey make sense as a location to host one of the UFC’s biggest fights in 2013?
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