UFC 309: Jones vs. Miocic Preview

Jon Jones is set to defend his UFC heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 on November 16, 2024, at Madison Square Garden, New York. This fight marks the return of Jones, who has been on hiatus for almost two years now since submitting Ciryl Gane in March 2023. Now, he’s ready to put his title on the line once again and this time, Miocic would be the one challenging him for the title. 

Jones (27-1, 1NC) has overcome a lot since his last defence, including injuries that have kept him away from the ring and delayed this fight from happening. A torn pectoral tendon forced Jones to pull out of UFC 295, where he was originally scheduled to fight Miocic last November. One year later, the fight finally came to life, and fans could not be gladder. 

Miocic (20-4), often hailed as the greatest heavyweight of all time, hasn’t fought since March 2021, when he lost his title to Francis Ngannou. At 42, questions about his fitness and future in the sport loom large. 

One reason why the fight stands out other than the stakes is due to the contrasting styles of the fighters. Jones is known for his flexibility and grappling skills, while Meiotic is a great boxer with superb wrestling credentials. The fight will test Jones’s ability to adapt and exploit Miocic’s weaknesses, especially considering Miocic’s recent inactivity and age. 

The fight is also expected to shake things up in the heavyweight division. Jones’ inactivity means the titles haven’t been contested for over a year, and this has denied many contenders the chance for a title shot. With Jones having this fight now, it may not take long again before another title fight happens in the heavyweight division. 

Added to the main event is the rematch between Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler, which has been happening for over 3 years since the first. It seems the first bout did not settle things between the two lightweight fighters, although Oliveira walked away the winner after a second-round knockout and the new lightweight champion. 

While Chandler would be seeking revenge, Oliveira’s priority is completely shutting up Chandler for good by putting up a performance just as good as the first fight.