Jon Jones not feeling the pressure

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones says he isn’t feeling any pressure ahead of his latest defence against Thiago Santos at UFC 239.

The 31-year-old beat Alexander Gustafsson via TKO in December to win the vacant light heavyweight title, before successfully defending it in Las Vegas against Anthony Smith in March. Jones is certainly not short on experience in the octagon amassing 24 victories since making his MMA debut 2008.

He has faced some big names during that time, having joined the UFC in 2008, and boasts the record for the most consecutive defences of the light heavyweight title.

The American was stripped of the belt after violating the UFC’s Athletic Code of Conduct policy following his victory over Daniel Cormier in 2015, however, he is back at the top ahead of facing Santos on Sunday.

Santos, who only made his light heavyweight debut in September 2018, heads into the fight with real momentum after winning four in a row. But Jones isn’t too concerned about Santos’ recent rise and insists it will be just “another day at the office”.

Jones said: “It just feels all like another day at the office for me at this point. It’s just also familiar. High-pressure moments, tough opponents, fighting the next scariest guy, the guy who’s been on the tear. And it’s all so familiar right now.

It’s almost too comfortable in this space. I would appreciate being a little more nervous. It’ll make me feel like I’m more ready, but I am ready and I feel great.”

Jones can be backed at 1.13 to prevail at the T-Mobile Arena, Nevada, while Santos is priced at 5.00 to snatch the title.