UFC 159: Jon Jones Stops Chael Sonnen

UFC 159: Jones vs. Sonnen took place on April 27, 2013, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Jon Jones stopped Chael Sonnen late in the first round to retain the UFC light heavyweight championship and tie the division’s then-record for consecutive title defenses. The event also included an unusual technical decision in Michael Bisping’s win over Alan Belcher and a result that was later overturned when Pat Healy’s submission of Jim Miller became a no contest.

Event video: Jones versus Sonnen.

Jones dominates Sonnen but suffers a serious toe injury

Sonnen earned the title opportunity after coaching opposite Jones on The Ultimate Fighter, following the canceled UFC 151 replacement bout that had first linked the two. At UFC 159, Jones met Sonnen’s wrestling pressure head-on, repeatedly took him down, and attacked with elbows and punches from top position.

The referee stopped the fight at 4:33 of round one. Only afterward did Jones realize that he had badly dislocated and broken his left big toe during the bout. The injury did not affect the official result: Jones retained the championship by TKO.

Bisping wins after an accidental eye poke ends the fight

Michael Bisping was ahead on the scorecards when an accidental eye poke left Alan Belcher unable to continue at 4:31 of round three. Because the fight had progressed far enough to go to the judges, Bisping was awarded a unanimous technical decision.

Roy Nelson knocked out Cheick Kongo with punches at 2:03 of round one and received Knockout of the Night. Phil Davis defeated Vinny Magalhaes by unanimous decision.

Healy–Miller is officially a no contest

Pat Healy originally submitted Jim Miller with a rear-naked choke at 4:02 of round three. On fight night, Healy received both Fight of the Night and Submission of the Night bonuses.

The result did not stand. Healy later tested positive for marijuana metabolites, and the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board changed the bout to a no contest. Healy forfeited both bonuses. Miller retained his Fight of the Night bonus, and Bryan Caraway received the Submission of the Night award for his preliminary-card victory over Johnny Bedford.

Two more bouts end unusually

Rustam Khabilov defeated Yancy Medeiros by doctor stoppage after a thumb injury ended the fight in round one. Ovince Saint Preux and Gian Villante reached a technical majority decision after an accidental eye poke halted their bout 33 seconds into the third round; Saint Preux was ahead on the scorecards.

Sara McMann stopped Sheila Gaff in the first round, Bryan Caraway submitted Johnny Bedford, and Cody McKenzie and Steven Siler won decisions.

Complete UFC 159 results

Main card

• Jon Jones def. Chael Sonnen — TKO (elbows and punches); round 1, 4:33. Jones retained the UFC light heavyweight championship.
• Michael Bisping def. Alan Belcher — unanimous technical decision; round 3, 4:31.
• Roy Nelson def. Cheick Kongo — KO/TKO (punches); round 1, 2:03.
• Phil Davis def. Vinny Magalhaes — unanimous decision; round 3, 5:00.
• Jim Miller vs. Pat Healy — no contest; original Healy submission at round 3, 4:02 was overturned.

Preliminary card

• Rustam Khabilov def. Yancy Medeiros — TKO (doctor stoppage); round 1, 2:32.
• Ovince Saint Preux def. Gian Villante — technical majority decision; round 3, 0:33.
• Sara McMann def. Sheila Gaff — TKO (punches); round 1, 4:06.
• Bryan Caraway def. Johnny Bedford — submission; round 3, 4:44.
• Cody McKenzie def. Leonard Garcia — unanimous decision; round 3, 5:00.
• Steven Siler def. Kurt Holobaugh — unanimous decision; round 3, 5:00.

UFC 159 combined a dominant Jones title defense with several unusual endings and one significant later reversal, making the official record more complex than the fight-night headlines suggested. Explore more of our MMA coverage.

Sources

UFC: official UFC 159 event results; UFC: Jones–Sonnen main-event report; Sherdog event record.

Article Tags

UFC 159, Jon Jones, Chael Sonnen, Mixed Martial Arts, UFC Results