Jon Jones has cemented his place as arguably the best blended martial arts (MMA) fighter of all hour by way of pulling off a splendid knockout of Stipe Miocic to store his heavyweight belt on the UFC 309 combat night time.
The 37-year-old American seemed totally in keep an eye on all the way through the primary tournament at Madison Sq. Farmland on Saturday, combating his opponent from leveraging his boxing abilities and completing with a brutal heel to the frame that left Miocic at the canvas clutching his ribs.
“That body shot man, no matter how tough you are, the liver’s the liver,” a jubilant Jones stated within the cage following his victory.
Within the aftermath, 42-year-old former champion Miocic stated he used to be retiring from the game.
“I’m done,” Miocic stated. “I’m hanging ’em up.”
Extensively thought to be the most efficient fighter on the planet, Jones (28 wins, 1 loss, 1 refuse competition) used to be the aggressor from the beginning and took Miocic indisposed with a wonderfully timed commute and trapped him ahead of dropping rain elbows as he ruled the remainder of the spherical.
Willing to not get taken indisposed once more, Miocic used to be dubious as he attempted to lead the gap, however Jones used to be ready to measure moves to the frame from his southpaw stance to store Miocic at the again underpinning.
Croatian-American Miocic loved some good fortune early within the 3rd spherical, however as soon as once more Jones used to be ready to determine the puzzle, connecting with a few punches overdue within the spherical ahead of his ingenious rotating kick ended the bout.
British heavyweight Tom Aspinall looms because the then challenger for Jones. Aspinall received a combat for the intervening time heavyweight name in November 2023.
UFC CEO Dana White had promised Aspinall, who chatted with Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray, would problem the winner of the primary tournament in a unification bout.
Trump, Musk in attendance
With Donald Trump within the target market, Jones imitated the US president-elect’s marketing campaign path dance as he celebrated.
Within the co-main tournament, Brazil’s Charles Oliveira defeated Michael Chandler by way of unanimous determination to place his title again in rivalry for a fracture on the light-weight name he used to be stripped of for lacking weight in Would possibly 2022.
Jones posed and performed to the public on lead of the octagon in entrance of Trump, Elon Musk, picked by way of Trump to top a unused Branch of Govt Potency, and Robert Kennedy Jr, Trump’s option to top the Branch of Condition and Human Products and services in his incoming management.
Trump walked out to a rousing ovation in entrance of 20,200 lovers simply ahead of the beginning of the pay-per-view card and perceived to bask within the thrill of the warring parties that all the way through the night time gave him props — together with Jones.
“I want to give a big, big thank you to President Donald Trump [for] being here tonight,” Jones stated to a roaring ovation that bled right into a “USA! USA!” chant.
“I’m proud to be a great American champion,” Jones stated.
Charles Oliveira vs Michael Chandler
In a light-weight bout that made each and every fan, from Child Rock to Jordan Knight to Anthony Kiedis, exit wild on the end within the 5th spherical, Charles Oliveira beat Michael Chandler by means of unanimous determination.
The combat used to be a rematch in their Would possibly 2021 combat when Charles Oliveira crowned Chandler to win the light-weight name. Oliveira staked his declare to every other name combat with the win.
The 5th spherical used to be about as excellent because it will get throughout the octagon highlighted by way of Chandler shedding Oliveira two times on his again.
The 38-year-old Chandler stepped throughout the cage for the primary hour in two years, in immense section as a result of he waited for a combat that by no means materialised with Conor McGregor.
“We’ve been wondering where you’ve been, Conor,” Chandler bellowed within the cage. “Come back and beat me if you can.”
