MMA
Ariel Helwani, ESPN Staff Writer 6y

UFC lines up rematch between Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson

MMA, UFC

A rematch of arguably the best fight in UFC history is set.

The promotion has officially booked Jon Jones versus Alexander Gustafsson for UFC 232 on Dec. 29 in Las Vegas, multiple sources close to the organization told ESPN.

The fight is slated to be for the UFC light heavyweight title. Current light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier, who is also the heavyweight champion, is expected to be stripped of the title once the fight happens, sources say.

Also scheduled for the event, which will take place at T-Mobile Arena, is Cris Cyborg against Amanda Nunes for the women's featherweight title.

Jones and Gustafsson competed in one of the most exciting bouts ever at UFC 165 in September 2013. The bloody back-and-forth battle ended in a close unanimous decision win for Jones, allowing him to retain the light heavyweight belt.

Jones has had an up-and-down career since that fight. Before facing Cormier at UFC 182 in January 2015, he tested positive for a metabolite of cocaine. In April 2015, he ran a red light and crashed his car into two vehicles, injuring a pregnant woman, and fled the scene. He later turned himself in Albuquerque, New Mexico, police.

Ahead of UFC 200, a rematch with Cormier, Jones tested positive for two banned substances, stemming from a contaminated erectile dysfunction drug, and the fight was canceled.

He and Cormier fought for a second time at UFC 214 in July 2017. Jones won by knockout in the third round, but the result was later overturned to a no contest after Jones tested positive for Turinabol, an anabolic steroid. He was stripped of his UFC light heavyweight belt. The United States Anti-Doping Agency announced in September that Jones would receive a 15-month suspension dating back to July 28, 2017, making him eligible on Oct. 28.

Jones is considered one of the best, if not the best, fighters of all time. He has not lost since 2009, the only blemish on his professional record.

Gustafsson has won two in a row, most recently against Glover Teixeira in May 2017. He knocked his opponent out in the fifth round.

Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson will vie for the light heavyweight title when they renew acquaintances at UFC 232 on Dec. 29 in Las Vegas. 

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