“The Sluggernaut” is finally back!
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight Jonny Parsons returns against Brazil’s prospects Jose Souza in the opening game of the year UFC Vegas 124 “Preliminaries” this weekend (Saturday, November 7, 2026) at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Parsons last competed at UFC London in July 2023, making his long-awaited Octagon debut Danny Roberts. The two middleweights exchanged heavy blows for nearly two full rounds before Parsons took down Roberts with a late punch, scoring a TKO (watch the highlights).
A wild battle served both fighters”Night fight” honors.
Then, yes! Parsons disappeared.
Well, we finally have an answer: Repeated hip flexor and groin injuries became so severe that Parsons occasionally struggled to walk or lift his legs.
“The biggest problem I had was with my hip flexors and it rolled down into my groin,” Parsons told UFC.com. “It caused a lot of problems with kicks and stuff like that. My lower body wasn’t really working, so it was hard to run in and hard to be active … I couldn’t walk or lift my feet off the ground for a couple of days.”
Parsons repeatedly aggravated the injury after returning to training, creating a frustrating cycle that kept delaying his return. After nearly a year of setbacks, the 35-year-old committed to extensive physical therapy and a new strength and conditioning program at the UFC Performance Institute.
The process finally worked.
Parsons said it’s now been about a year since she experienced one debilitating episode that previously left her in pain and almost immobile.
Despite spending roughly 40 months away from competition, “The Sluggernaut” isn’t worried about ring rust. Long layoffs have followed him throughout his career, including a nearly two-year wait between earning a contract Contender series on October 2021 and made his UFC debut.
“I’m an even better fighter than I was and this is the strongest I’ve felt in five years,” Parsons said. “I’m no stranger to long layoffs. Some of my best performances have come after a long layoff … I’m confident I’ll get off the couch, so now that I’m in great health and feeling strong, I’m ready to go.”
Parsons (9-3) won’t have an easy matchup. Souza (9-1) is a 24-year-old prospect who won in his UFC debut Ding Meng by a split decision in May.
If you’re not familiar with Parsons, which is understandable considering he’s only appeared in one octagon, know that he fights with relentless pressure, sharp Muay Thai and serious striking power. He’s a no-throttle, no-holds-barred fighter who seems completely comfortable turning every battle into a brawl.
Three years of injury and rehab later, “The Sluggernaut” is finally getting another chance to show UFC fans what they’ve been missing.
For the latest and greatest news and notes from UFC Vegas 124, be sure to check out our comprehensive event archive. here.