UFC 247
MMA's best fighter, Jon Jones, headlines huge card at Toyota Center on Saturday
Feb 6, 2020, 6:55 am
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MMA returns to Houston on the biggest scale Saturday night, as UFC 247 comes to Toyota Center with a unique card that features the greatest fighter in the world along with a lot of fighters with Houston connections.
If you have a chance to go in person, it is well worth it. If not, the pay per view is well worth your money.
The headliner is Jon Jones, the undisputed best fighter in the world. Jones is 25-1 with his only loss a controversial disqualification. He will face unbeaten Dominick Reyes (12-0). It is a rare chance to see one of the most dominant performers in a sport perform in Houston. Imagine Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods in his prime, and that is Jones to MMA.
But there are several other great fights on the card. Fan favorite Valentina Schevchenko takes on Katlyn Chookagian in the fight before Jones.
A couple of heavyweights who got their start in Houston are also on the main card. Juan Adams looks to get back on track against Justin Tafa, and Derrick Lewis returns with a match against Ilie Latifi.
The other fight on the main card features Mirsad Bektic against Dan Ige.
Jones, Adams, Bektic and Alex Morono, who fights on the ESPN part of the card, were all featured on The Blitz this week. Adams was on Tuesday's show, while the others all appeared on Wednesday. All of those interviews are available on podcastareana.com
On Thursday, Dana White will appear in studio.
The card starts at 5:30 with the fight pass bouts. The Pay Per View card starts at 9 p.m.
Tickets are available here and at Toyota Center . The PPV is available on ESPN Plus.
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.