Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic – UFC 309: Clash for the MMA Heavyweight Championship Title

Jones ends Miocic’s career with a devastating back kick to the ribs during UFC 309 fight night in New York, marking a dramatic conclusion to the heavyweight bout.

Jon Jones has solidified his legacy as one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time with a spectacular knockout of Stipe Miocic, successfully defending his heavyweight title at UFC 309.

The 37-year-old American dominated the main event at Madison Square Garden on Saturday, skillfully neutralizing Miocic’s boxing abilities. Jones delivered a devastating heel kick to the body, leaving Miocic on the canvas clutching his ribs in a decisive and unforgettable finish.

“That body shot, man. No matter how tough you are, the liver’s the liver,” an elated Jon Jones said inside the cage after his victory.

Following the fight, 42-year-old former champion Stipe Miocic announced his retirement from the sport.

“I’m done,” Miocic said. “I’m hanging ’em up.”

Widely regarded as the best fighter in the world, Jon Jones (28 wins, 1 loss, 1 no contest) came out as the aggressor from the opening bell. He executed a perfectly timed trip to take Stipe Miocic to the ground, trapping him and unleashing a flurry of elbows, maintaining control and dominance throughout the round.

Determined to avoid another takedown, Miocic adopted a cautious approach, focusing on maintaining distance. However, Jones capitalized on the opening, landing precise body strikes from his southpaw stance, keeping Miocic on the defensive.

Miocic found brief success early in the third round, but Jones quickly adapted. Late in the round, he landed a few solid punches before finishing the fight with a spectacular spinning kick that sealed his victory.

British heavyweight Tom Aspinall is likely to be Jones’s next opponent. Aspinall claimed the interim heavyweight title in November 2023, setting the stage for a high-stakes matchup.

UFC CEO Dana White confirmed that Aspinall, seen chatting with Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, is guaranteed a unification bout against the winner of the main event.

Trump and Musk Attend UFC 309

With President-elect Donald Trump in the audience, Jon Jones celebrated his victory by mimicking Trump’s signature campaign trail dance. Meanwhile, in the co-main event, Brazil’s Charles Oliveira defeated Michael Chandler by unanimous decision, putting himself back in the race for the lightweight title he lost in May 2022 after missing weight.

Jones soaked in the moment, posing atop the octagon and playing to the crowd. Among those watching were Trump, Elon Musk—appointed by Trump to head the new Department of Government Efficiency—and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., selected to lead the Department of Health and Human Services in the incoming administration.

Trump received a thunderous ovation from the 20,200 fans in attendance when he arrived just before the start of the pay-per-view card. Fighters throughout the night paid tribute to him, including Jones.

“I want to give a big, big thank you to President Donald Trump for being here tonight,” Jones said, prompting the crowd to erupt into chants of “USA! USA!”

“I’m proud to be a great American champion,” Jones declared, drawing another wave of applause from the energized crowd.

Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler

In a thrilling lightweight showdown that had fans like Kid Rock, Jordan Knight, and Anthony Kiedis on their feet, Charles Oliveira defeated Michael Chandler via unanimous decision. The bout, a rematch of their May 2021 clash when Oliveira first claimed the lightweight title, reinforced Oliveira’s case for another shot at the championship.

The fifth round delivered peak octagon drama, with Chandler managing to drop Oliveira twice, keeping the crowd on edge until the final bell.

For 38-year-old Chandler, this marked his return to the cage after a two-year hiatus, largely due to waiting on a fight with Conor McGregor that never materialized.

After the bout, Chandler didn’t shy away from calling out McGregor, delivering a challenge directly into the mic.

“We’ve been wondering where you’ve been, Conor,” Chandler shouted. “Come back and beat me if you can.”