Jon Jones continued his reign over of the UFC light heavyweight division on Saturday when he defeated Thiago Santos in the UFC 239 main event.
Jones (25-1 MMA, 19-1 UFC) earned a record-tying 13th win in a UFC title fight when he defeated Santos (21-7 MMA, 13-6 UFC) by split decision in the pay-per-view headliner, which took place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Check below for the top Twitter reactions to Jones’ title defense against Santos at UFC 239.
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We've arrived at the #UFC239 main event and it sees Jon Jones (@JonnyBones) put his light heavyweight title up for grabs against Thiago Santos (@TMarretaMMA).
Play-by-play: https://t.co/n0GZ5wacpy pic.twitter.com/XIdlcGpV2y
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) July 7, 2019
#UFC239 Light Heavyweight Title Closing Betting Odds:
Jon Jones (-600) vs. Thiago Santos (+425)
💵 Live Now -> @espn+ #ppv @Jon_Anik @joerogan @felderpaul @ufc @MMAOddsBreaker https://t.co/pgt06lZO1n
— Nick Kalikas (@FightOdds) July 7, 2019
Santos fires back with some heavy calf kicks. #UFC239
— Rob Tatum (@RobTatum303) July 7, 2019
“Those are some very small calves.”
– @joerogan— Lando Vannata (@GroovyLando) July 7, 2019
Biggest trait in Jones's striking: single shot, high variance. He doesn't throw a ton of combos. Instead he prefers to throw strikes that don't pattern each other, one at a time.
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) July 7, 2019
Right by Santos knocks Jones' mouthpiece out.
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) July 7, 2019
First time in awhile we’ve seen Jones have trouble reading an opponent. Very reactive in that first round
— Jimmy Smith (@jimmysmithmma) July 7, 2019
Did Santos roll and ankle or something at the end of round 1. Looked like a slight limp to the corner . #UFC239
— Sean O'Connell (@realOCsports) July 7, 2019
1 to Santos
— Chael Sonnen (@ChaelSonnen) July 7, 2019
10-9 Santos, but a very close round.
The power of Santos makes this fight so much more nerve wracking than the average Jones fight.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) July 7, 2019
Santos is definitely competitive in this fight. He is landing his share of kicks/punches so far. Halfway through second round now
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) July 7, 2019
Santos got tagged with a kick from Jones and appeared to lose his balance and go down. Jones wisely didn't come in too aggressively #UFC239
— Brian Martin (@TheBMartin) July 7, 2019
Fight of inches… #UFC239
— Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) July 7, 2019
Jones is playing with fire…
— Andreas Hale (@AndreasHale) July 7, 2019
Jones tried the bottlecap challenge at the end of the round
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) July 7, 2019
Very close Round 2, probably 10-9 Jones because he’s the champ? But Santos had moments that stood out.
— Simon Samano (@SJSamano) July 7, 2019
Santos 20-18
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) July 7, 2019
Jon needs to start fighting with a little more urgency/ volume as Santos is up 2 but seemingly hurt his left knee #ufc239
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) July 7, 2019
Head kick skims up the shoulder from Santos. Jones stalking and lands a hard low kick. Santos returns his own but backs off. Good body kick from Santos. #UFC239
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) July 7, 2019
Santos is looking good. Fighting very well.
— Krzysztof Soszynski (@KSOSufc) July 7, 2019
Impressive start for Thiago, alot of score cards have him up. Been a long time since we have seen the possibility of Jon fighting down on a score card. #UFC239
— KEN SHAMROCK (@ShamrockKen) July 7, 2019
Two kicks by Jon land, including one to the face
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) July 7, 2019
Jones cuts Santos and smells blood literally and figuratively. The champ pressing now.
— RJ Clifford (@RJcliffordMMA) July 7, 2019
29-28 Santos through three
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) July 7, 2019
Rd 3- JJ
— Chael Sonnen (@ChaelSonnen) July 7, 2019
Starting to open up as Santos wearing down…
— Jimmy Smith (@jimmysmithmma) July 7, 2019
Injury or not great fight main event ! Couple of bad asses getting it !
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) July 7, 2019
Thiago is a wounded animal now and jones isn’t gonna let him off the hook
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) July 7, 2019
Jones is in the zone
— Luis Antonio Pena (@violentbobross) July 7, 2019
Santos fading now, he’s a pictogram behind Jon in these exchanges. Still has power but a little less pop than the champ at this point.
— Bryan Hamper (@BryanHamper) July 7, 2019
Jones attacking the left knee of Santos which has buckled a few times in this fight. #UFC239
— Sherdog by Mandatory (@sherdogdotcom) July 7, 2019
Rd 4- JJ
— Chael Sonnen (@ChaelSonnen) July 7, 2019
That's a tough round to score. Probably the toughest of the fight. I'll give it to Jones, have it tied two rounds apiece going to the fifth.
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) July 7, 2019
I believe it’s not the acl @joerogan I think it’s his meniscus
— Platinum Mike Perry (@PlatinumPerry) July 7, 2019
This is a great fight these fans are just spoiled
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) July 7, 2019
http://twitter.com/kennyflorian/status/1147726332421275649
Santos finding new life in the 5th. Jon needs to dig deep and find that pulsating effect.
— Bryan Hamper (@BryanHamper) July 7, 2019
S.A.N.T.O.S. Let’s go!!! @ufc
— Renee Young (@ReneeYoungWWE) July 7, 2019
Santos’ poker face… #UFC239
— Mike Jackson, Esq. (@TheTruthJackson) July 7, 2019
And new
— Chael Sonnen (@ChaelSonnen) July 7, 2019
I know how this is gonna go . WOW #UFC239
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) July 7, 2019
I had to look through twitter feed to see if I was the only one that thought santos won. I am not the only one
— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) July 7, 2019
Regardless, I'll tell you this: Thiago Santos is THE. FUCKING. SHIT.
— Fernanda Prates (@NandaPrates_) July 7, 2019
I can’t believe I’m saying this but I have Santos winning 3-2 but mostly because Jon Jones refused to go in for the kill. Santos on one leg was a scary man. #UFC239
— Goze (@thegoze) July 7, 2019
Santos fought great but honestly I thought Jones won 4 of those rds
— James Vick (@JamesVickMMA) July 7, 2019
Well, Jones got the nod but looked a bit flustered and looked very vulnerable against an injured fighter.
— Jimmy Smith (@jimmysmithmma) July 7, 2019
I also think had @TMarretaMMA not blown his knee would’ve been different result Congrats to both show of technical striking and toughness .
— Raphael Assuncao (@RaphaAssuncao) July 7, 2019
Jon Jones retains his title via split decision.
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) July 7, 2019
Hats off to @TMarretaMMA the only man in a while to take @JonnyBones to a split decision. #ufc239
— Julian marquez (@JMarquezMMA) July 7, 2019
Respect @TMarretaMMA for a great fight !! #ufc239 🦁
— JIMI MANUWA (@POSTERBOYJM) July 7, 2019
Jon Jones defeats Thiago Santos by split decision and ties the record for most title wins in UFC history. #UFC239 pic.twitter.com/P9fe2zpEk4
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohnMMA) July 7, 2019
#UFC239 results: Jon Jones (@JonnyBones) def. Thiago Santos via split decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47) – to defend light heavyweight title
Full play-by-play: https://t.co/ozyCH1MUwZ pic.twitter.com/WCzZnimtOf
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) July 7, 2019
Champ Jon Jones certainly didn't leave #UFC239 unscathed, and he was helped from the cage following the split-decision result.
Twitter reacts to the win: https://t.co/MOBRC6Hg7Y pic.twitter.com/h2jD6uicmw
— MMA Junkie (@MMAjunkie) July 7, 2019
For complete coverage of UFC 239, check out the UFC Results.
