UFC 309: Jones v Miocic - all you need to know

Jon Jones has been sidelined for one year and eight months while Stipe Miocic has spent three years and seven months out of action

Jon Jones makes his long-awaited return from injury to defend his UFC heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic on Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York.

The former light-heavyweight champion faces a former heavyweight champion in 42-year-old Miocic.

Ohio's Miocic holds the record for the most successful title defences at heavyweight, while Jones is defending the belt he won in 2023.

The fight was originally scheduled to happen in November 2023, but an injury to Jones and the subsequent withdrawal of Miocic saw Tom Aspinall step in to become interim champion.

Jones, 37, is considered by many as the greatest mixed martial artist of all time, but has already hinted his showdown with Miocic could be his last MMA fight.

Both men have spent lengthy periods on the sidelines. Jones has not fought since March 2023 when he beat Ciryl Gane to become heavyweight champion, whereas Miocic has not fought since March 2021.

The undercard includes a lightweight fight between Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler, as well as Scotsman Paul Craig and Welshman Oban Elliott in action.

You can follow live text commentary of UFC 309 from 04:00 GMT on Sunday, 17 November on the BBC Sport website and app.

What are the UK times for UFC 309?

UFC events usually follow a consistent schedule and UFC 309 is expected to be the same.

The prelims begin at 01:00 GMT on Sunday, 17 November.

The main card will begin from 03:00, with Jones v Miocic not expected to start before 05:00.

Who is on the UFC 309 fight card and what is the running order?

Jon Jones v Stipe Miocic - UFC heavyweight title fight (5x5min rounds)

Main card

• Charles Oliveira v Michael Chandler 2 – lightweight (5x5min rounds)

• Viviane Araujo v Karine Silva - flyweight (3x5min rounds)

• Bo Nickal v Paul Craig - middleweight

• Mauricio Ruffy v James Llontop - catchweight 16lbs

Undercard

• Jonathan Martinez v Marcus McGhee - bantamweight

• Chris Weidman v Eryk Anders - middleweight

• Jim Miller v Damon Jackson - lightweight

• David Onama v Roberto Romero - featherweight

• Jhonata Diniz v Marcin Tybura - heavyweight

• Ramiz Brahimaj v Mickey Gall - welterweight

• Bassil Hafez v Oban Elliott - welterweight

• Veronica Hardy v Eduarda Moura - flyweight

Predictions for Jones v Miocic

Retired UFC champion Michael Bisping: "Stipe is a natural heavyweight and Jon Jones isn't. It's hard to go against Jon Jones. Stipe might knock Jones out with one shot. I do think Jon Jones gets the fight done."

Interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall: "It’s always difficult to say with heavyweights, you never know because it’s so dangerous. Stipe has the power advantage but I think Jon is way more athletic, and Jon has more ways to win. So I would give the edge to Jon, but I wouldn’t be surprised either way."

Scottish fighter Paul Craig: "This is a beautiful fight. I do believe Jon has got the credentials to beat him. I am not writing off Stipe, there's always a puncher's chance. I just believe Jones is going to be too much for him."

Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou: "[If I had to pick a winner] it would have to be Stipe."

Former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira: "Two great names. But I'm rooting for Jon Jones."

Lightweight contender Michael Chandler: "Jon Jones is everyone's GOAT [Greatest of all time]. And then you got Stipe who has many tools. These guys are out for finish from the first bell to the last bell."

Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya: "I'm going for Jon Jones within the first two rounds. I don't know if it's going to be knockout or submission. I think he's going to get it done in crazy fashion."

How do Jones and Miocic's records compare?

Jones (27-1-1NC) is always in the conversation for greatest fighter of all time, but in Miocic he faces a man considered the most consistent heavyweight champion of all time in the UFC.

Miocic (20-4) has twice captured the title and has fought a who's who of heavyweights down the years. He has wins over Francis Ngannou, Daniel Cormier, Andrei Arlovski and Fabricio Werdum.

The big-hitter has 15 stoppages in 20 wins and has lost just four times. Those came against Cormier, Ngannou, Junior dos Santos and Stefan Struve.

Miocic relies on his excellent cardio and striking to overwhelm his opponents and has the most finishes in UFC heavyweight title fights (4).

He is also tied with all-time great Randy Couture for most wins in title fights (6). No-one has successfully defended a heavyweight UFC title more than Miocic.

Albuquerque's Jones has just one loss on his record, a disqualification loss to Matt Hamill in 2009. He has 27 wins in 29 fights, after a win in 2017 over his bitter rival Cormier was changed to a no-contest because of a failed drug test. Jones has served two doping bans in his UFC career.

Jones is the youngest UFC champion in history, winning the light-heavyweight title when he was just 23 years old.

At 6ft 4in he was an unstoppable force at light-heavyweight, beating every contender in front of him including Cormier, Ryan Bader, Mauricio Rua, Lyoto Machida, Vitor Belfort and Rashad Evans.

Jones is known for being a near-perfect all-round fighter, able to stop, submit or outclass an opponent.

He has 10 stoppages and seven submissions on his record and has the most successful title defences in light-heavyweight history (11), which ties him with flyweight legend Demetrious Johnson for the most title defences in UFC history.

Where do Jones and Miocic sit in heavyweight rankings?

Tom Aspinall, the interim champion, is the number one contender at heavyweight

What is the UFC 309 fight week schedule?

Wednesday - media day from 15:00 GMT

It is traditional in fight week that all the fighters attend a media with the press where they conduct individual and group interviews. Scotsman Craig will be speaking as well as Jones, Chandler and Miocic.

Thursday - news conference from 22:00 GMT

The Theater inside Madison Square Garden will host all the main event fighters including Jones and Miocic. Generally fans and media are allowed to ask questions to the fighters before the face-offs at the end.

Friday - weigh-in from 22:00 GMT

The UFC hold early and ceremonial weigh-ins. The early weigh-ins record the actual weights and are from 14:00. The ceremonial weigh-ins are conducted later in the day and are open to the public. They begin from 22:00. It is the final time the fighters will see each other before they enter the octagon.