UFC 247
| Company type | Event |
|---|---|
| Industry | Mixed martial arts |
| Founded | February 8, 2020 |
| Headquarters | Houston, Texas , United States |
UFC 247: Jones vs. Reyes was a mixed martial arts competition organized by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on February 8, 2020, at the Toyota Center located in Houston, Texas, United States.
Background
The event’s headline featured a contest for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship between the two-time titleholder Jon Jones and his challenger Dominick Reyes. The secondary main attraction showcased a UFC Women's Flyweight Championship bout with reigning champion Valentina Shevchenko defending her belt against Katlyn Chookagian.
A light heavyweight matchup initially planned between former interim title contender Ovince Saint Preux and Ryan Spann was removed from the lineup. Additionally, a bantamweight clash between Sean O'Malley and José Alberto Quiñónez, originally set for UFC 229, was anticipated for this card but later rescheduled to UFC 248.
Dhiego Lima was scheduled to compete against Alex Morono but withdrew due to a neck injury; promotional debutant Khaos Williams stepped in as his replacement. In another change, Jimmie Rivera pulled out of his fight with Marlon Vera citing injury, which resulted in Vera’s removal from the event.
In the middleweight category, Antonio Arroyo withdrew just one day before his bout with Trevin Giles because of medical complications. He was substituted by James Krause, who was already present in Houston serving as a cornerman.
Bonus awards
The following competitors were awarded $50,000 bonuses:
- Fight of the Night: Trevin Giles vs. James Krause
- Performance of the Night: Khaos Williams and Mario Bautista
Aftermath
On March 25, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation revealed that Journey Newson tested positive for marijuana during competition. As a result, his win was changed to a no contest, and he may face fines along with a suspension lasting up to 90 days according to Texas regulations.
Controversy
The outcome of Jon Jones’ win over Dominick Reyes in the main event has sparked significant debate within both the UFC and the broader MMA community. The judges scored the contest 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46 in favor of Jones; however, 14 out of 21 media representatives scored the fight for Reyes, while only 7 sided with Jones.