''UFC 159: Jones vs. Sonnen'' was a mixed martial arts event held on April 27, 2013, at the
Prudential Center
Prudential Center is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the central business district of Newark, New Jersey. Opened in 2007, it is the home of the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL) and the men's basketball program of Seton Hal ...
in
Newark, New Jersey
Newark ( , ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Jersey and the seat of Essex County and the second largest city within the New York metropolitan area.
Background
Jimy Hettes
James Michael Hettes (born June 9, 1987) is a retired American mixed martial artist who competed as a featherweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Background
Hettes is a 2-time Keystone State Games Judo Gold Medalist and earned the nickn ...
was expected to face
Steven Siler
Steven Scott Siler (born February 15, 1987) is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Featherweight division of the Professional Fighters League. A professional competitor since 2005, he has competed for the UFC, Titan FC, Ta ...
at the event; however, Hettes was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by Kurt Holobaugh.
Joe Proctor
Joseph Edward Proctor (born August 10, 1985) is an American mixed martial artist who most recently competed in the welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional competitor since 2008, Proctor was also a competitor o ...
was expected to face Al Iaquinta at the event. However, the bout was scrapped as both fighters sustained training injuries leading up to the fight.
Johnny Bedford
John Charles "Johnny" Bedford (born January 6, 1983) is an American retired mixed martial artist and bare knuckle boxer. A professional since 2003, he has fought in the UFC, Bellator, the Legacy Fighting Alliance, and was a competitor on Spike ...
was expected to face Erik Perez at the event. However, Perez pulled out of the bout just days before the event citing an injury and was replaced by
Bryan Caraway
Bryan Caraway (born August 4, 1984) is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in Battlefield Fighting Championship. A professional MMA competitor since 2005, Caraway has fought in the UFC, Strikeforce, EliteXC, and the WEC. He wa ...
.
Welterweights
Nick Catone
Nicholas Catone (born September 1, 1981) is a retired American mixed martial artist. Catone competed most recently in the Ultimate Fighting Championship in their Middleweight division.
Mixed martial arts career Wrestling
Catone began wrestling ...
and James Head were scheduled to face each other on this card. However, at the weigh ins Catone missed weight and the bout was subsequently pulled from the card the day of the show after Catone went to the hospital for dehydration. The bout was scrapped as a result.
Results
Bonus Awards
Fighters were awarded $65,000 bonuses.
* Fight of the Night: Pat Healy vs. Jim Miller ^
* Knockout of the Night: Roy Nelson
* Submission of the Night: Bryan Caraway ^
^ ''Double bonus winner Pat Healy had his awards rescinded after testing positive for marijuana during his post fight drug screening.''