Jon Jones successfully defended his UFC heavyweight title with a stunning spinning kick that knocked out Stipe Miocic in the third round of their bout at UFC 309 on Saturday at Madison Square Garden. This marked Jones’ first fight since claiming the title in his heavyweight debut in March of the previous year, while Miocic was making his return to the octagon for the first time since 2021.
The initial two rounds saw both seasoned fighters evenly matched until the closing moments of the third round, when Jones unleashed a powerful spinning kick that struck Miocic in the abdomen, causing him to bend over in agony. The referee stopped the contest, allowing Jones to celebrate the defense of his title and solidify his reputation as one of the greatest mixed martial artists in history.
There had been much speculation about Jones’ plans following a potential victory, with options including retirement, a unification bout against interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall—who was present in New York—and a highly anticipated light heavyweight matchup with Alex Pereira. However, in the octagon after the fight, the 37-year-old downplayed retirement. “I’ve decided that maybe I won’t retire just yet.
I have some discussions to have with (UFC president) Dana (White) and (UFC chief business officer) Hunter (Campbell), and we need to negotiate. If everything aligns, perhaps we’ll deliver what you all want to see,” Jones shared with Joe Rogan. When pressed about his next fight, he stated, “I know we have options, so I’ll see what Uncle Dana and Uncle Hunter have in mind, and I’m sure you’ll hear about it soon.”
For Miocic, this marked the end of his illustrious UFC career, as he announced his retirement at 42 shortly after the defeat. “It’s disappointing to lose. I knew he was one of the greatest of all time. I came in strong and felt good, but he caught me in the ribs,” said the former two-time heavyweight champion. “I’m done. I’m retiring, thank God.”
Jones expressed deep admiration for Miocic after the fight. “It’s like fighting the Terminator,” he remarked. “It’s very discouraging to hit someone who doesn’t react. But that body shot, no matter how tough you are, the liver is the liver.”
During his post-fight comments, Jones also acknowledged US President-elect Donald Trump, who was seated ringside alongside White and Elon Musk, as well as House Speaker Mike Johnson, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Kid Rock. White, a long-time ally of Trump, had previously spoken at the Republican National Convention in 2016 and again this year shortly after Trump survived an assassination attempt. White’s support for Trump was part of a strategy to attract young male voters and to enhance Republicans’ historically weak performance among Black and Latino men.
As Trump received enthusiastic cheers from the crowd while making his way to his seat, Jones celebrated his victory by mimicking Trump’s famous dance. After receiving his title belt, Jones approached Trump to celebrate, shaking hands and allowing Trump to hold the belt. CNN’s Eric Brader contributed to this report.
