Jon Jones stops Stipe Miocic in three rounds at UFC 309 in Madison Square Garden
Jones retains UFC heavyweight title courtesy of a spinning back heel
American, 37, confirms he is "maybe" not retiring as Tom Aspinall watches on at cageside
MAIN CARD: Charles Oliveira defeats Michael Chandler on points in thrilling rematch
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Former UFC two-weight world champion Henry Cejudo on X: "20-18 Jones. Stipe is one step behind."
PFL fighter Derek Brunson on X: "Stipe is one tough customer!"
Jones v Miocic
Jones is the one managing the distance and the temp, he looks comfortable until Miocic launches an attack for the first time.
Miocic goes charging forward throwing left and right but doesn't land clean.
Jones responds with a spinning heel kick to the body.
Two controlled rounds in the bag for Jones.
Image source, Getty ImagesJones v Miocic
Miocic comes forward with a left hook but Jones sways out of danger and returns with a short counter hook of his own.
Miocic is looking slow and laboured. It's his first fight since March 2021.
As well as success with the hands, Jones is attacking the body with straight kicks.
Jones puts the Thai grip on the back of Miocic's head, drags it down and then throws a knee into the body.
That hurt!
Image source, Getty ImagesJones v Miocic
Chants of "Stipe, Stipe, Stipe" ring around Madison Square Garden.
Miocic needs to keep this on the feet for as long as possible.
He eats a straight right and has some swelling under his right eye - that'll be from those elbows in round one.
Jones is yet to be asked a question.
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UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad on X: "Jon has been waiting for a long time to throw 12-6 elbows."
Jones v Miocic
Jones briefly moves to side control and then back to half-guard before raining down elbows.
Miocic is really struggling.
The referee thinks about stepping in but Miocic manages to turn to a hip to get out of trouble for a moment.
The elbows keep coming. They are brutal.
Miocic gets away from the fence and forces Jones back into his guard but Jones postures up and moves across into side control. Jones is so slick on the ground.
Huge elbows punctuate a dominant round from the champion.
Image source, Getty ImagesJones v Miocic
Jones passes into half-guard with relative ease after a bruising elbow connect with the head of Miocic.
This is looking ominous.
Miocic prevents Jones from passing further and slows the progress for a moment.
Image source, Getty ImagesJones v Miocic
Jones throws the first punch, dipping his head as he launches a right overhand but Miocic steps back and counters.
Jones tries to walk down the former champion but Miocic circles away. In an attempt to slow the 42-year-old, Jones lands an inside leg kick and Miocic grimaces.
Jones gets the first takedown.
Image source, Getty ImagesJones v Miocic
Paul Battison
BBC Sport journalist at Madison Square Garden
Interim champion Tom Aspinall has got to his feet while Bruce Buffer does the introductions.
He's all smiles as Buffer introduces Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic.
Here we go.
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."
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Former two-weight world champion Henry Cejudo on X: "Jones by KO."
UFC heavyweight Aleksandar Rakic on X: "The return of the GOAT."
Jones v Miocic
Over to the heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
Jones knows how to play to the New York audience with a mix of 50 Cent songs before the obvious choice of 'The Champ Is Here' by Jadakiss.
A huge beaming smile on his face, it's a walk that is all so familiar, coming out second as a champion does.
A few slaps of his legs, a couple on his chest and a final prayer before he cart-wheels into the octagon.
It's almost time.
Image source, Getty ImagesRetired 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."
Jones v Miocic
It's main event time.
Stipe Miocic is first to make the walk. He's a no-nonsense kind of guy and that's exactly how the walk plays out. A purposeful stride to cage side to get his final checks before stepping into the octagon.
Miocic really is a huge man.
Is the final time we will see Miocic make that trip?
Image source, Getty ImagesJon Jones made his debut for the promotion at UFC 87 in 2008 beating Andre Gusmao by unanimous decision.
Jones took the fight on just two week's notice and although he was unable to get the finish, he displayed a full range of high-level skills, including this fine knee to the chin.
Image source, Getty ImagesJones's MMA record reads 27 wins, one loss and one no contest.
The one defeat came against Matt Hamill and would you believe it came from the very dominant full mount position you see below.
Jones was disqualified for illegal 12–6 elbows - striking straight up and down - but on 2 November 2024 (15 days ago) the UFC finally made that action legal.
UFC president Dana White has since been asked whether the defeat can be wiped from Jones' record but that looks unlikely.
Image source, Getty ImagesIt took Jones just eight fights in the UFC to land the light-heavyweight title, becoming the youngest-ever champion in the promotion at 23 and sparking an era of domination.
Jones beat Maurício Rua in round three. His winning sequence started with a body shot and ended with a knee to the body.
Image source, Getty ImagesJones broke the record for the most consecutive light-heavyweight title defences when he put on an all-time classic with Alexander Gustafsson.
The two fighters were extremely well-matched through four rounds of intense action but Jones found that extra gear in the fifth to prevail.
Image source, Getty ImagesWho would play Jon Jones in a movie? Jones' favourite fight? The craziest rumour about Jones?
All the key questions answered by the heavyweight champion.
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We all love a few stats at this time of the morning, right?
There isn't a huge amount of data to go off when looking at Jon Jones in the heavyweight division - despite him being the champion.
Jones is featuring for just the second time as a heavyweight, having beaten Ciryl Gane on his debut to pick up the vacant title, but his 15 title fights at light-heavyweight give us plenty to consider.
Miocic has featured in six fewer title fights but just look at his stoppage rate - six in nine bouts, compared to Jones' seven in 15.
Stipe Miocic holds the record for the most knockouts in UFC title fights (4) and has 15 victories in that fashion on his CV.
His most recent knockout victory came against former two-weight world champion Daniel Cormier (on commentary duty for the UFC tonight) in 2019 to win the heavyweight title.
Image source, Getty ImagesAlistair Overeem never laid his hands on the UFC heavyweight title but he was a mainstay in the division.
Overeem was an all or nothing fighter - 40 of his 67 fights ended by knockout, winning 25 and losing 15.
One of those defeats came against Miocic.
Miocic got knocked down early in the fight but recovered quickly to win in the first round.
Image source, Getty ImagesMiocic's first heavyweight title reign started courtesy of a first round knockout victory against Fabrício Werdum.
The American also picked up a performance of the night bonus too.
Image source, Getty ImagesMiocic picked up a decision victory on his UFC debut in 2011 but it was his second fight for the promotion in 2012 - a knockout win against Phil de Fries - that really let the audience know what he was capable of.
It took Miocic just 43 seconds to deal with the Englishman.
Image source, Getty ImagesOliveira beats Chandler by unanimous decision
How Michael Chandler managed to stand up and slam Charles Oliveira not once, but twice in the final round, we don't know.
And did we mention he got beat up for the entire fight?
Unbelievable.
Image source, Getty Images