Jon Jones earned a TKO victory over Stipe Miocic to retain the heavyweight championship at UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.
Both fighters announced their plans for the future after the match.
Miocic returned to the octagon for the first time since losing to Francis Ngannou by knockout in 2021. Jones returned to the octagon after winning the vacant title in his heavyweight debut in March 2023. He now has a 28-1 record and has won his last six fights.
The card will also feature Michael Chandler taking on Charles Oliveira and Viviane Araujo taking on Karine Silva. David Onama will take on Roberto Romero in a lightweight fight on the preliminary card after Onama’s featherweight fight with Lucas Almeida was canceled.
Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic results: Jones wins by TKO to retain championship
Jones is one of four champions to successfully defend championships in two divisions along with Henry Cejudo, Daniel Cormier and Amanda Nunes.
Jones said he would not retire and expects to work with Dana White to find his next opponent. Stipe Miocic announced his retirement after the match.
Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic (Heavyweight): Results, Analysis
Round 1: Jones and Miocic spend the first minute feeling each other out. It’s Miocic’s first fight since 2021. Jones took down Miocic and worked in some ground and pound early. Jones continued to deliver a series of elbow strikes that appeared to rattle Miocic with just over a minute remaining in the opening period. Jones cut open Miocic in the final seconds of the round before time expired.
Round 2: The fights remained on their feet through the first half of the round with an exchange of strikes. Miocic’s corner spent most of the round telling him to after Jones with a continued attack but wouldn’t follow through after landing a punch.
Round 3: Miocic appeared a bit more aggressive to start the round but Jones managed to retreat and cut off his momentum. Jones landed a significant right-handed shot to remain in control of the fight.
Jones landed a spinning kick to the rib cage that dropped Miocic in the final seconds of the third round. Jones retains the undisputed heavyweight title with a knockout victory.
Charles Oliveira overwhelms Michael Chandler (Lightweight): Results, Analysis
Round 1: Oliveira favored his eye early in the fight after he was poked by Chandler but the Brazilian managed to get the upper hand halfway through the period and took control of Chandler on the ground for well over three minutes.
Round 2: Chandler slipped and the Brazilian moved quickly to try and capitalize. Chandler found himself retreating on several occasions. Oliveira took Chandler back down to the ground for a second time. Oliveira successfully landed elbow strikes to the face of Chandler, cutting him open on the forehead.
Round 3: Oliveira landed several strikes on Chandler with him back on the ground again. Oliveira was in complete control through the first three rounds. Chandler continued to break free of his submission attempts.
Round 4: Chandler came out a bit more aggressive as the two exchanged strikes. Oliveira worked Chandler back down to the ground again to control the fight with two minutes left in the period. Chandler continued to do enough to evade Oliveira’s submission attempts.
Round 5: Chandler gave himself a chance by landing some significant strikes that rattle Oliveira. Chandler had Oliveira on the ground for some time before letting him back up. Oliveira’s face was bloodied but managed to take down Chandler again to establish control. Chandler took one last gamble by standing up with Oliveira on his back and dropping backward twice before time expired.
Oliveira does enough to beat Chandler by unanimous decision to join Andrei Arlovski and Donald Cerrone for second all-time with 23 UFC career victories.
Chandler calls out Conor McGregor after the fight.
Bo Nickal outlasts Paul Craig (Middleweight): Results, Analysis
Round 1: Paul Craig appeared unfazed following the round. He never sat down and was chatting with his corner the entire time. Craig looks significantly bigger than Nickal.
Round 2: Craig continued to chat with Nickal to start the round. Fans were booing during the round as it appeared to be a bit of a standstill through the first four minutes of the period.
Round 3: Nickal lands a couple of shots on Craig to get the crowd going halfway through the round. Craig was cut open near his right eye. The crowd quickly lost interest in the fight again, chanting ‘overrated.’ Nickal walks over to have a word with Donald Trump before he was declared the winner by unanimous decision. He remains undefeated with a 7-0 record.
Viviane Araujo drains Karine Silva (Women’s Flyweight): Results, Analysis
Round 1: Araujo dictated most of the round but it was Silva, who proved to be the aggressor in the final seconds of the period. Araujo’s nose was bloodied at the end of the round.
Round 2: Silva landed a series of shots to rock Araujo with 3:15 left in the round. Silva then had Araujo pinned against the fence following the strikes before taking her down to the mat. Silva began to have blood pouring from her face. Araujo managed to get Silva in an armbar but wasn’t able to hold on to it. The round finishes with both fighters on the ground.
Round 3: The two Brazilian fighters share a hug before starting the round. It was not long before both were back on the ground. Araujo allowed Silva to get back up and the fight resumes. There was a slower pace through the first four minutes of the round with Silva appearing visibly tired. Araujo wins by unanimous decision.
Mauricio Ruffy beats James Llontop (Catchweight): Results, Analysis
Round 1: After spending some time feeling each other out in the early minutes of the fight, Ruffy landed various strikes on Llontop in the final seconds of the round.
Round 2: Ruffy drops Llontop with a look-away left-handed punch with 3:30 left in the round. Ruffy took a few more shots at a grounded Llontop. Llontop displayed a level of toughness getting back to his feet and bringing the fight to Ruffy. Ruffy returned with another right-handed shot that drew blood from Llontop’s face. Llontop’s left eye was swollen.
Round 3: Ruffy had landed more shots to the head through two and a half rounds but Llontop had landed more shots to the body and legs. Llontop continued to push throughout the third round to keep it competitive. Both fighters acknowledge each other after the fight before Ruffy goes over toward Donald Trump and Elon Musk for a quick conversation. Ruffy wins by unanimous decision.
Donald Trump arrives to watch UFC 309 main card
The United States president-elect made a grand entrance following the conclusion of the preliminary fights at Madison Square Garden. Trump walked in alongside UFC CEO Dana White, Kid Rock and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Other notable names in attendance included: Kate Hudson, Karl Anthony-Towns, Adin Ross, Robert Kennedy Jr. and Jelly Roll.
Eryk Anders vs. Chris Weidman was cancelled late
Anders had reportedly fallen ill and had to bow out of his fight with Weidman in the hours leading up to the event on Saturday. It remains unclear if the fight will be rescheduled for a later date.
UFC 309 PRELIM RESULTS
Marcus McGhee does enough against Jonathan Martinez (Bantamweight)
Both fights continued to feel each other out during the first two rounds. Martinez managed to land leg kicks to limit McGhee’s movement late in the second round. Martinez never took advantage of the hobbled fighter as time expired in the third. McGhee did enough in the early rounds to earn the unanimous decision victory.
Jim Miller submits Damon Jackson (Lightweight)
Miller earned his 27th UFC victory with a guillotine in the first round. He is the all-time winner in UFC history with the most victories. Andrei Arlovski and Donald Cerrone are second all-time with 23 UFC victories.
David Onama beats Roberto Romero (Lightweight)
Romero rocks Onama, dropping him to the ground and attempting to put him in a chokehold. Both men manage to get back on their feet in the first round. Onama landed a couple of shots to Romero that got a reaction from the crowd before time expired. Despite a late attempt by Onama to end the fight in the final seconds of the third round, the fight goes the distance. Onama wins by unanimous decision.
Marcin Tybura defeats Jhonata Diniz (Heavyweight)
Diniz had the early advantage against Tybura in the first round but things turned around in the second round. Tybura landed a series of elbow strikes to bloody Diniz’s face as time expired in the period. Diniz was wobbly getting back to the corner and after advice from the doctors on sight, referee Herb Dean called the fight.
UFC 309 main card: time, streaming for Saturday
Date: Saturday, Nov. 16
Time: Main card: 10 p.m. ET; prelims start at 8 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN+ with an additional PPV fee
Location: Madison Square Garden (New York)
Watch UFC 309 and more MMA with an ESPN+ subscription
UFC 309: Jones vs. Miocic start time
Prelims: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (ESPN+)
Main card: 10 p.m. ET /7 p.m. PT (PPV on ESPN+)
UFC 309: Jones vs. Miocic fight card
Main Card
Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic (Heavyweight)
Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler (Lightweight)
Bo Nickal vs. Paul Craig (Middleweight)
Viviane Araujo vs. Karine Silva (Women’s Flyweight)
Mauricio Ruffy vs. James Llontop (Catchweight)
Prelims
Jonathan Martinez vs. Marcus McGhee (Bantamweight)
Chris Weidman vs. Eryk Anders (Middleweight)
Jim Miller vs. Damon Jackson (Lightweight)
David Onama vs. Roberto Romero (Lightweight)
Marcin Tybura vs. Jhonata Diniz (Heavyweight)
Early Prelims
Mickey Gall vs. Ramiz Brahimaj (Welterweight)
Bassil Hafez vs. Oban Elliott (Welterweight)
Veronica Hardy vs. Eduarda Moura (Women Flyweight)
UFC 309: Jones vs. Miocic odds
All odds are for moneyline bets (as of Saturday afternoon unless noted otherwise), according to BetMGM.
Main Card
Jon Jones (-650) vs. Stipe Miocic (+475)
Charles Oliveira (-275) vs. Michael Chandler (+210)
Bo Nickal (-1400) vs. Paul Craig (+800)
Viviane Araujo (+240) vs. Karine Silva (-300)
Mauricio Ruffy (-1000) vs. James Llontop (+625)
Prelims
Jonathan Martinez (+115) vs. Marcus McGhee (-140)
Chris Weidman (-105) vs. Eryk Anders (-115)
Jim Miller (+135) vs. Damon Jackson (-165)
David Onama (-1400) vs. Roberto Romero (+800)
Marcin Tybura (-115) vs. Jhonata Diniz (-105)
Early Prelims
Mickey Gall (-185) vs. Ramiz Brahimaj (+150)
Bassil Hafez (+240) vs. Oban Elliott (-300)
Veronica Hardy (-150) vs. Eduarda Moura (+125) — as of Friday
UFC 309 live stream
The prelims will be available for live stream on ESPN+. The pay-per-view main event can be purchased and streamed through ESPN+.
UFC 309 price
The UFC 309 pay-per-view can be purchased through ESPN+ (which requires a subscription) for $79.99.
UFC 309 location
The event will be held at Madison Square Garden in New York. MSG is a historic venue with a capacity of 19,500 and has hosted events in the past, including UFC 205: Eddie Alvarez vs. Conor McGregor.
UFC 309 predictions
Sporting News: Miocic could upset Jones
Daniel Yanofsky writes, ‘Miocic can cause a massive upset with one big punch. However, is his timing the same as it was in 2021? The fight going the distance seems unlikely, and Jones winning via TKO is a fair outcome. Will either retire, win or lose?’
MMAnews: Miocic’s inconsistency could be the difference
Ryan Jarrell writes: ‘I would love to pick Miocic to beat Jones and reclaim the heavyweight throne. But I just don’t see it happening at this point in his career. The former champ is much older now and hasn’t been fighting consistently at all.’
ClutchPoints: Jones will have to make proper adjustments to win
Dominik Zawartko writes ‘Ultimately, the difference for Jon Jones will be his striking and wrestling pedigree to lean on. His chin is much more solid at 240 pounds and he’ll make the proper adjustments if Stipe begins to tag him. We like Jones to win this fight, but the total over is more intriguing as we see a methodical fight from both men.’
Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic: Tale of the Tape
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