In a night that will go down in MMA history, Jon “Bones” Jones further solidified his claim as the greatest fighter of all time with a stunning third-round TKO victory over Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Jones unleashed a vicious ground-and-pound attack to force the stoppage at 3:17 of the third round, defending his UFC heavyweight title in his first bout in the division.
A Clash of Titans
The highly anticipated showdown between two of the most accomplished fighters in UFC history lived up to the hype. Miocic, returning from a three-year layoff, showed no signs of ring rust early as he went strike-for-strike with Jones in a closely contested first round.
But as the fight wore on, Jones’ diverse attack began to take its toll. He mixed in punishing kicks to Miocic’s lead leg with his signature spinning elbows and creative clinch work. By the end of round two, Miocic’s movement was compromised and his face showed damage from Jones’ pinpoint striking.
Bones Smells Blood
Sensing his moment, Jones came out aggressively in the third round, eventually taking Miocic down with a perfectly timed double-leg takedown. From there, Jones postured up and rained down a hellacious barrage of punches and elbows that left Miocic unable to intelligently defend himself, forcing referee Herb Dean to intervene and halt the contest.
“Stipe’s the greatest heavyweight of all time. I know I’ve got a lot more to prove in this division, but this is a big step for me tonight.”
Jon Jones said in his post-fight interview
Is This the End for Jones?
Despite his triumphant victory, questions swirled about Jones’ fighting future after the 35-year-old hinted that this could be his final trip to the Octagon.
“I don’t know. This could be it for me. I’ve got to talk to my coaches, talk to Dana, and figure out what makes sense.”
Jones said when asked what’s next
UFC President Dana White didn’t seem too concerned about Jones’ apparent indecision on his future.
“He’s the GOAT. He can do whatever he wants. But I can tell you right now, we’ve got some big fights lined up for him if he wants them. The Jonny Jones business is still booming.”
White told reporters at the post-fight press conference
Aspinall Awaits
One of those fights could come against surging British contender Tom Aspinall, who was sitting cageside for Jones vs. Miocic. Aspinall has been on a tear in the UFC heavyweight division, racking up five straight stoppage wins to establish himself as the next leading contender.
“I want Jones next, simple as that. He’s the GOAT, but I know I’ve got what it takes to beat him. I’m the next generation.”
Aspinall said in a backstage interview
Jones was noncommittal when asked about the prospect of fighting Aspinall, saying he needs some time to decompress and evaluate his options. But if he does decide to continue his career, a showdown with the dangerous Aspinall would present a fresh challenge for the longtime light heavyweight king in his new division.
Other UFC 309 Results
In other main card action at UFC 309:
- Charles Oliveira made a triumphant return to the lightweight division, submitting Michael Chandler with a 2nd-round guillotine choke in a rematch of their 2021 classic. Oliveira improves to 2-0 over Chandler and reestablishes himself as a top contender at 155 pounds.
- Bo Nickal delivered a star-making performance in his Octagon debut, needing just 52 seconds to submit Paul Craig with an arm-triangle choke in their middleweight bout. The three-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion lived up to his tremendous hype and sets himself up for a rapid rise up the 185-pound ranks.
- In his first fight since suffering a horrific leg break in 2021, former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman showed he’s still a force to be reckoned with by stopping Eryk Anders with a 1st-round TKO. An emotional Weidman dedicated the win to his family who helped him through his arduous recovery.
With Jones’ reign atop the heavyweight division continuing, Oliveira reestablishing himself at lightweight, and the emergence of a bona fide superstar prospect in Nickal, UFC 309 delivered a night full of thrilling action and significant results that will shape several of the promotion’s weight classes for months to come. The return to Madison Square Garden proved to be a smashing success for the UFC as it capped off another banner year for the MMA leader.
