Jon Jones shined in the main event of UFC 309 by stopping Stipe Miocic, and then teased “options” for his next massive fight.
[autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] is still the UFC heavyweight champion after sending former title holder [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] into retirement.
The UFC 309 main event pitted two legends of MMA in the center of Madison Square Garden in New York for what promised to be a firework-producing title fight. At 4:29 of Round 3, Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC) found the shot he needed to put Miocic (20-5 MMA, 14-5 UFC) down and out.
The fight started with a methodical pace after a quick glove touch. As he typically does, Jones took control of the center of the cage and dictated the pace. After a few moments, Jones closed in and hit a beautiful trip takedown, where the fight would stay for the remainder of the round.
While on the canvas, Miocic was on the receiving end of multiple vicious ground-and-pound elbows. Staying calm through the fire, Miocic somehow survived to see the next round.
The crowd continued to show their support for Miocic with chants, but the former champ struggled to get going. Jones patiently stalked forward as he mixed up offense to the body and head, including a couple of stiff kicks to the midsection.
For a little added flair, Jones threw in a spinning back kick to the body toward the end of Round 2, foreshadowing what was to come.
Listening to the advice of his corner, Miocic came out with combinations to start Round 3. Jones got on his bike to evade and reset, causing frustration for Miocic.
Jones’ speed advantage continued to shine as he connected with flush punches that rocked Miocic and sent him retreating. Jones followed to capitalize, but Miocic stayed in the fight.
However, it was just a matter of time until Jones landed with another devastating shot, and it came in the form of another spinning back kick to the body that folded Miocic to the canvas. Jones rushed in to land follow up shots for the stoppage.
The celebration for Jones was on, including the signature arm pump dance of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, who was watching closely cageside.
During his post-fight interview Jones, 37, said has decided to continue fighting. He acknowledged there are options on the table, but wants to speak with UFC brass to see whether Tom Aspinall or Alex Pereira will be next.
The former champion who still holds the record for heavyweight title defenses kept things short and sweet on the microphone as he told Joe Rogan it was time to walk away from the sport.
[lawrence-related id=2786768,2787169,2787243]
Full UFC 309 results include:
Jon Jones def. Stipe Miocic via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 4:29
The MMA community reacted to Jon Jones’ easy title defense and brutal finish over Stipe Miocic in the UFC 309 main event.
[autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] returned from a 20-month layoff on Saturday for his long-awaited fight with [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] at UFC 309, and as expected, he retained the belt.
Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC) was a massive favorite over former champion Miocic (20-5 MMA, 14-5 UFC), who hadn’t competed since March 2021, and went out and lived up to that with a third-round TKO victory in the headlining act of the event at Madison Square Garden in New York.
There’s been much speculation about Jones’ fighting future heading into the event, and afterward Jones said he will continue fighting, while Miocic retired.
Check below for the top X (formerly Twitter) reactions to Jones beating Miocic at UFC 309.
Check out the best photos from Jon Jones’ heavyweight title win over Stipe Miocic at UFC 309.
Check out the best photos from [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag]’ third-round TKO win over [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] at UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden in New York. (Photos by Brad Penner, Imagn Images; UFC; MMA Junkie)
Before the fights get underway, join MMA Junkie’s Farah Hannoun for a live-streamed preview of UFC 309 in New York.
UFC 309 goes down Saturday night with a heavyweight championship showdown atop the bill, and before the fights get underway, Farah Hannoun will host a live-streamed preview show right here, which kicks off at 5 p.m. ET.
In the headliner, heavyweight champion Jon Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) puts his title on the line for the first time when he takes on former champ Stipe Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) in a fight delayed by a year. In the co-feature, former lightweight champ Charles Oliveira (34-10 MMA, 22-10 UFC) takes on Michael Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) after he was left at the altar by Conor McGregor.
UFC 309 takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York and streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews, ESPN+ and Hulu.
Below is the full UFC 309 lineup:
UFC 309 main card (pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
Champ Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic – for heavyweight title
Analyzing Saturday’s UFC 309 odds between Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic, with MMA picks and predictions.
[gambcom-standard rankid=”4141″ ]
In a 5-round heavyweight championship bout in the main event, Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic battle at UFC 309 Saturday at Madison Square Garden. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s UFC odds around the UFC 309: Jones vs. Miocic odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.
The early prelims begin at 6 p.m. ET on Hulu/ESPN+, while the prelims get started at 8 p.m. ET on ESPNews/FX/Hulu/ESPN+. The main card begins at 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-view.
Records: Jones (27-1-0) | Miocic (20-4-0)
Jones returned to the octagon after a 3-year absence, posting a first-round submission win over Ciryl Gane to snatch the heavyweight strap at UFC 285 in his step up to the heavyweight division. The 37-year-old is making his way back from a torn pectoral muscle, which pushed this event back more than a year.
Miocic last fought at UFC 260, losing in a second-round KO/TKO against Francis Ngannou in a championship bout. The greatest heavyweight in UFC history now gets a shot at the most decorated fighter in company history in an epic showdown between 2 fighters at the tail end of their careers.
Miocic is a punching machine who will want to try and keep this an upright brawl, while Jones will want to get him down to the canvas to get all serpentine on the former champ, looking for a submission victory.
Jones has a 4.5-inch reach advantage, while the difference in significant strikes landed per minute, as well as the accuracy on those strikes, is fairly negligible.
Jones has an ever-so-slight 1.93-to-1.86 takedown average, with a 45.36% takedown accuracy percentage, to just 34.25% for Miocic. Bones has a 0.48 submission average, too, which he’d love to improve.
Jones (-700) will cost you more 7 times your potential return, if you’re looking to back him straight up. That’s way too much risk for not enough reward.
As far as Miocic (+475) is concerned, the layoff has just been too much, and that makes him a super risky pick. It would be an amazing upset, and frankly, it’s stunning to see the former champ, and one of the most dominant heavyweights in UFC history, as such a heavy underdog. It’s tempting to play him straight up.
The best course of action is to take JONES BY KO/TKO OR DQ (+100) at even money. Miocic has been away a while, and it won’t end well against Jones, one of the best to ever do it.
UNDER 2.5 ROUNDS (-145) may be the best play on the board.
Jones has actually ended up going the distance in 3 of his past 4 fights, but those distance bouts were from March 2019 to Feb. 2020. In his most recent bout in March 2023, he needed just 2:04 to submit Gane.
For Miocic, he has seen just 2 of his past 10 fights go the distance, and 5 of those fights didn’t make it out of the first round. It would be stunning to see this one last into the night.
As far as No (-500): Will fight go the distance?, that’s just way too much risk for not nearly enough reward.
Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.
The odds are stacked in Jon Jones’ favor to defeat Stipe Miocic, but could an upset be brewing in the UFC 309 headliner?
MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom goes in-depth to break down the biggest fights in the UFC. Today, he takes a closer look at the UFC 309 main event between heavyweight champion [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] and former champ [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag].
Jon Jones UFC 309 preview:
Jon Jones at UFC 285 weigh-ins. (Photo by Patrick Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)
Supplemental info:
+ Former UFC heavyweight champion
+ Golden Gloves winner
+ NCAA Division 1 wrestler
+ Regional MMA title
+ 15 KO victories
+ 9 first-round finishes
+ KO power
+ Solid footwork
+ Good sense inside the pocket
^ Pulls and returns well
+ Dangerous right hand
^ Counters well off of inside parry
+ Solid takedown transitions
^ Favors head-outside singles
+ Good positional rides
^ Active ground striker
Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic point of interest: Clash of styles
Stipe Miocic
The main event for UFC 309 features a heavyweight title fight between two legends who are effective with different styles.
Despite being blessed with some natural gifts, [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag]’ almost-unflinching computing of striking exchanges has helped him stay ahead of his contemporaries throughout the years.
Seldom will you see Jones throw the same sequence of strikes within the same minute or even round – unless, that is, he is trying to set up his opposition or walk them into something sinister. And with him being one of the most tried and true stance switchers in MMA, Jones can exercise a plethora of options available to him to help further his agenda.
Whether he’s hiding behind hand posts or disrupting his opponent’s approach with oblique kicks and body assaults, Jones is clearly not shy when it comes to utilizing his length. Still, I would also argue that Jones has proven he isn’t reliant on it either.
Not only does Jones have the aforementioned abilities to navigate exchanges, but he also has made quiet strides in his boxing ability in an effort to help shore up the range that most of his opponents risk life and limb to maintain. Even against the breakneck pressure that Daniel Cormier brought to their second meeting, Jones was able to pivot or shift his way into counterpunches like never before in his career.
That said, Jones also has experienced his hardest shots when shifting in or out of this range and is not beyond getting himself crossed up in retreat – something that could prove costly against someone with the size and power of [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag].
A Golden Gloves boxing winner before he even began his MMA career, Miocic was able to stand out among his contemporaries in the striking department. Although Mioicic’s athletic ability and background in wrestling add an undeniable dimension to his game, it is the work that the champion does in small spaces that tends to make the difference.
Akin to a heavyweight version of Frankie Edgar, Miocic will steadily work behind a series of jabs and feints, stepping slightly off at an angle in search of his counters or follow-up shots. Moving just as well laterally as he does in and out, Miocic shows a good sense of the action inside the pocket, almost preternaturally pulling and returning his punches.
Whether Miocic uses his patented inside parries or slick step-offs to the side, his battering ram of a right hand is undoubtedly his hallmark. However, if Miocic isn’t careful, he could get more than he bargains for hand-fighting with someone like Jones.
Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic breakdown: Winning the wrestling
Jon Jones and Ciryl Gane at UFC 285. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Considering both men’s bases and the arguable crux of their games, winning the wrestling will be paramount this Saturday.
Although Jones has elected to strike more and more in the latter years of his career, the former light heavyweight champion reminded the masses that he can still get things done on the ground against Frenchman, Ciryl Gane.
A JUCO national wrestling champ who initially cut his teeth as an aggressive clinch fighter, no one should be shocked if Jones elects to exercise his grappling edges – even against a fellow wrestler.
For example, in Jones’ first fight against Daniel Cormier, a world-class wrestler and all-time MMA clinch artist in his own right, Jones was able to shut down his offense in close by utilizing creative wrist controls to disrupt the former double champion’s game and open up his own.
Using his long frame to multitask inside the clinch, Jones can implement wrenching over-hooks (a la the ones that famously injured Glover Teixeira’s shoulder), all while using his free hand to either strike or help secure wrist-feeds to his over-hooking hand. This intricate tie-up also allows Jones the leverage to come over the top with elbows regardless of whether he is still holding onto wrists.
I often reference Makhachev in relation to wrist controls, but Jon Jones has been popularizing hand fighting for some time.
Hand traps to elbows, overhooks that parlay into wrist-feeds (which setup elbows, knees and shoulder strikes), defensive wrist pins that open up takedowns: pic.twitter.com/bBgcDxP5Jm
For those who have not wrestled or grappled in some form, wrist control is the unsung gatekeeper of advancing position, as a solid hand-fighter can befuddle even the best of grapplers.
Thankfully for Miocic, he grew up wrestling and should be familiar with some of Jones’ tactics.
Coming up in Ohio as a ranked NCAA Division 1 wrestler at Cleveland State, Miocic has typically shown to scramble well when pressured. But more often than not, the American-born Croatian usually decides the wrestling terms in his fights.
Akin to other wrestle-boxers like Cormier, Miocic also uses reactive double-legs or snatch singles to combat pressuring opponents. Typically finishing his entries by snapping his opponents all the way down (almost like he’s hiking a football), Miocic shows a solid top game that he can go to should he choose to follow the action to the floor.
From Miocic’s shoulder pressure and short strikes from half-guard to his relentless positional rides, Jones could get caught in some ugly spots should he falter positionally or try and get too cute in transition.
That said, If Miocic allows Jones to secure any takedowns or dominant positions on the ground, then it will certainly be dangerous for the former champ given his getup tendencies opposite of what should be the superior submission wrestler in “Bones.”
Although Miocic seems near-impossible to hold down, he does tend to turtle hard while scrambling back to his feet.
Whether Miocic is swimming for a single to wrestle up or is utilizing the fence to stand, he offers a decent amount of exposure that many can get away with in the heavyweight division due to its lack of wrestlers and back-takers.
Not only does turtling briefly give your back, but it also exposes your neck to front-headlock attacks, both of which are positions that Jones is very competent from. This constant juxtaposition of transitional threats and positional battles will keep every scramble between these two entertaining as they are important.
Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic odds
The oddsmakers and the public are heavily favoring the younger man, listing Jones -700 and Miocic +440 via FanDuel.
Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic prediction, pick
Between MMA gambler’s love for fading older fighters to the insane hype job Dana White is doing to promote this fight, seeing a betting spread this wide sadly doesn’t surprise me.
Akin to Floyd Mayweather, Jones has been selective about both his opponents and the terms of said contests for some time now (as he clearly sees the upside to fighting someone like Miocic at this stage of his career).
Aside from the fact that Miocic presents the wrestle-boxing archetype that’s traditionally brought out the best in Jones, the 42-year-old former champ has shown serious signs of wear in the latter stretches of his career.
Even before Miocic’s wars with Daniel Cormier and Francis Ngannou, the Ohio native took part in three straight fights that, even in victory, saw him face early damage and adversity against the likes of Junior Dos Santos, Fabricio Werdum and Alistair Overeem. And by the time Miocic was through with his series with Cormier, it became clear, at least to me, that he wasn’t seeing shots nearly as well (which was something I pointed out ahead of his rematch with Ngannou).
Jones may not be as potent a knockout threat as the aforementioned names, but the former light heavyweight kingpin possesses a shot selection – particularly from southpaw – that could wreak havoc on Miocic from a stylistic perspective.
Whether we look at Jones’ second fight with Cormier or Miocic’s back-and-forth wars with Alistair Overeem and Shane Del Rosario, you can see why I’ve hallmarked the term, “death, taxes and wrestle-boxers dipping to the southpaw power side.”
This is a dynamic that Jones is very familiar with, so don’t be shocked if he’s able to outstrike or stun Mioicic standing. And if Jones can establish top position in this fight, then be prepared to see him bring back his vaunted ground striking as I’m willing to wager that he’ll be looking to make a statement via 12-6 elbows.
There’s nothing I’d love more than to be wrong and see Miocic use Jones’ hand-fighting sensibilities against him early by annihilating him with his classic right hand off of an inside parry. But even though I’ve never wanted to rate Jones as high as others due to his cheating and competition in deceptively weaker divisions (at least in comparison to greats like Jose Aldo), it’s hard not to favor him against an inactive and aging Miocic.
As someone who believes that Tom Aspinall is the baddest man in the UFC’s heavyweight division and that Ngannou is the baddest man on the planet, I am honestly not excited to see this fight given the promotional brouhaha that we will have to continue to put up with from the UFC boss (who is obviously still going through another fighter breakup given that we’re in the narrative manipulation stage of his ongoing feud with the lineal champion Ngannou).
That said, I’ll reluctantly pick Jones to help White paint his masterpiece by eventually forcing a stoppage via strikes by Round 3.
Prediction: Jones inside the distance
Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic start time, where to watch
As the main event, Jones and Miocic are expected to make their walks to the octagon at approximately 12:15 a.m. ET. The fight streams live on ESPN+ pay-per-view.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 309.
In the sixth and final episode of UFC 309 “Embedded,” go behind the scenes with Jon Jones and other fighters at the weigh-ins.
The UFC is back in New York for UFC 309, and the popular “Embedded” fight week video series is here to document what’s happening behind the scenes.
UFC 309 (pay-per-view, ESPNews/Hulu/FX, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York.
In the headliner, heavyweight champion [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) puts his title on the line for the first time when he takes on former champ [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) in a fight delayed by a year. In the co-feature, former lightweight champ [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] (34-10 MMA, 22-10 UFC) takes on [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) after he was left at the altar by Conor McGregor.
The sixth and final episode of “Embedded” follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC’s description of the episode from YouTube:
Stipe Miocic plays Euchre with his team; Chris Weidman cuts weight with Kevin James; Charles Oliveira sheds his last few pounds; Athletes step on the scales for UFC 309’s Official Weigh-Ins; Paul Craig gets his war paint applied; The stars of UFC 309 step on a historic scale in Madison Square Garden for Ceremonial Weigh-Ins.
Join MMA Junkie Radio’s “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” for a live-streamed watch-along of UFC 309 in New York.
UFC 309 goes down Saturday night with a heavyweight championship showdown atop the bill, and MMA Junkie Radio’s “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” will host a live-streamed watch-along right here at 8 p.m. ET.
In the headliner, heavyweight champion Jon Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) puts his title on the line for the first time when he takes on former champ Stipe Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) in a fight delayed by a year. In the co-feature, former lightweight champ Charles Oliveira (34-10 MMA, 22-10 UFC) takes on Michael Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) after he was left at the altar by Conor McGregor.
UFC 309 takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York and streams on ESPN+ pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews, ESPN+ and Hulu.
Below is the lineup of fights included in the watch-along
UFC 309 main card (pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
Champ Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic – for heavyweight title
Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic completed their final UFC 309 pre-fight business with a last staredown at ceremonial weigh-ins.
NEW YORK – [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] and [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] completed their final bit of UFC 309 pre-fight business with one last staredown at Friday’s ceremonial weigh-ins.
Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) and Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) made weight earlier in the day, then completed the build to the potential double retirement heavyweight title bout with a faceoff in front of fans and media before they meet in Saturday’s headliner at Madison Square Garden (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+).
Unlike at the press conference, Jones did shake Miocic’s hand when the former champ extended it.
After claiming the heavyweight belt in March 2023, Jones returns to the octagon from injury in attempt to make his first defense. Miocic, meanwhile, hasn’t seen competition since losing the title to Francis Ngannou in March 2021.
Jones is arguably the greatest fighter in MMA history, while Miocic has the strongest resume of any heavyweight in UFC history. After a long wait to share the octagon, they are now just one night away.
Check out the video above to see Jones and Miocic face off for the final time at UFC 309 ceremonial weigh-ins.
UFC CEO Dana White has changed his tune on booking Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira – kind of.
UFC CEO [autotag]Dana White[/autotag] has changed his tune on booking [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] – kind of.
Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) has claimed prior to Saturday’s heavyweight title defense against Stipe Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) at UFC 309 that, if he successful, he will not unify belts with interim champion [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag]. Instead he wants reigning light heavyweight titleholder Alex Pereira, who he said is the only matchup that would keep him from retirement.
White already has voiced his dismay for those comments, saying he will not make the Jones vs. Pereira fight next and “Bones” has the option to either retire or unify with Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC). He stands behind that, but thinks there is a compromise that could be made to satisfy everyone involved.
“Obviously a guy like Jon Jones has had a career where, if he wants something we would do it,” White said on The Pat McAfee Show. “But you can’t just do a fun fight and not fight the interim heavyweight champion, the guy who is next – because if Jon Jones retired on Saturday, Tom Aspinall would be the heavyweight champion.
“Opportunities were given to Jon Jones. He was 23, he was the youngest champion of all time. Now, as he sits where he sits, it’s his obligation to give it to the younger guy to give him that opportunity. If he beats Tom Aspinall, then yes, I would do the Alex Pereira fight.”
It remains to be seen if Jones will be open to taking on Aspinall. He said at UFC 309 that the Brit was “an asshole” and he doesn’t want to do business with him.
UFC 309 takes place at Madison Square Garden. The main card airs on ESPN+ pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews and ESPN+.
[lawrence-related id=2786586,2786543,2786735]
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 309.
