Jones knocks out Miocic to retain heavyweight title

Jon Jones reminded the world why he’s one of the greatest fighters in MMA history after defeating Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 over the weekend. Jones (28 – 1 – 0, 1NC) was able to retain his heavyweight title with a stunning third-round TKO, concluding the fight with a spinning back kick to Miocic’s ribs. The fight marked Jones’ 20-straight victory, the longest streak in UFC history. 

From the jump, Jones looked set to win, and it was obvious in every way. He executed a well-timed trip takedown in the first round, loading a barrage of elbows that kept Miocic (20-5) on the defensive. Although Miocic, at 42 years old, tried to put up a defense to the blows from his opponent, he struggled to find his rhythm against Jones’s onslaught as the heavyweight champion did not leave any room for recovery. 

The fight progressed with Jones maintaining control, landing effective body strikes, and thwarting Miocic’s boxing skills. In the third round, after a brief resurgence from Miocic, Jones delivered the decisive blow—a creative spinning kick that sent Miocic crashing to the canvas. Referee Herb Dean quickly intervened as Jones followed up with ground-and-pound strikes, sealing the victory. 

After the match, Miocic announced his retirement from MMA, stating, “I’m done. I’m hanging ’em up,” marking the end of an illustrious career that included multiple title defenses and a reputation as one of the sport’s all-time greats. 

Meanwhile, Jones hinted at future plans but avoided committing to a title unification bout against interim champion Tom Aspinall, who was present at the event. According to Jones, he was looking forward to fighting Alex Pereira next. He said: “I don’t want to fight dangerous up-and-comers anymore. I want to fight dangerous, established champions,” taking a swipe at Aspinall. 

The atmosphere at Madison Square Garden was electric, with notable figures like Donald Trump and Elon Musk in attendance. Jones celebrated his victory by engaging with the crowd and even mimicking Trump’s campaign trail dance moves before presenting the president-elect with his belt. 

In addition to the main event, UFC 309 featured an equally exciting co-main event where Charles Oliveira defeated Michael Chandler by unanimous decision. This victory reestablished Oliveira as a top contender for the lightweight title after previously losing it due to weight issues.