What happens when two era-defining legacies finally collide to register their stake as the singular and ultimate entity? For fight fans, it transpires in the form of one of the most prominent bouts of all time at UFC 309. Heavyweight king Jon Jones is making his highly anticipated return to slay another division GOAT in the form of Stipe Miocic. Both fighters have crafted impressive resumes, making this matchup all the more thrilling.

The odds are heavily in favor of Jon Jones with pundits and oddsmakers pointing to his undefeated record and his age advantage over Miocic, creating doubts among Miocic fans. As the 42-year-old challenger steps into the Octagon, many wonder: Does Stipe Miocic have a realistic chance against the reigning champion? If he does stand a chance, how could he pull it off? To answer that question, who better than former two-division champion Daniel Cormier? Having fought both Jon Jones and Miocic, Cormier recently provided insights into the possible strategies the New York native might use for the UFC 309 headline showdown.

DC sheds some light on Jon Jones’ fighting tactics

One of Julius Caesar’s most famous quotes, “Experience is the teacher of all things,” seems perfectly fitting for former UFC heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier. With over a decade in the Octagon and a career spanning 26 fights, Cormier has suffered only three losses under the UFC banner—one to Jon Jones and two to Stipe Miocic. His only no-contest bout also came against ‘Bones’.

Despite these setbacks, Cormier speaks openly about his experiences and draws from them to analyze potential fight outcomes. Recently, on Chael Sonnen’s Good Guy/Bad Guy segment on ESPN MMA, DC discussed his legendary bouts with Jon Jones. When Sonnen inquired into his encounters with ‘Bones’, Cormier highlighted the significance of “time,” “space,” and Jones’ reach.

“One thing about Jon Jones is his spacing—it’s so important. Takedowns in open space? Jon Jones can’t get a takedown. He was never going to take me down by actually shooting in, getting to my legs, and taking me down. But what he was very good at was pushing you up against the fence, right? Then, switching down to a double leg. He’s got an 84-inch reach; a seven-footer’s reach. So, if he can press you against the Octagon, change levels, and get his hands locked, he can take you down. That’s what he was very good at defensively,” Cormier said.

And Cormier isn’t wrong. Standing at 6’4″, Jon Jones is one of the tallest fighters in the sport, and his incredibly long arms serve as a dangerous asset. When paired with his devastating power, fight IQ, and ability to seamlessly blend wrestling with striking, ‘Bones’ uses his reach and skill set to dominate opponents, leaving them with little opportunity to recover. His arsenal now appears even more diverse, especially with the recent lifting of the ban on certain moves by the combat sports authority.

Jones’s reaction to legalizing downward elbow strikes

Jon Jones, in his more than a decade-long career as a fighter, has been a force to be reckoned with, boasting an almost perfect record. The only blemish came from a disqualification early in his career against Matt Hamill when the New York prospect used a downward elbow strike or 12-6 elbow. This move is named after the position of the hand on the clock, specifically the straight-up, straight-down attack on an opponent once they are on the ground. The move was banned based on the unified rules of MMA compiled by veteran referee Big John McCarthy in 2000.

However, after 9 years, these rules were finally adopted by the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC), and the elbows remained banned until recently. On November 1, 2024, the authority legalized the downward elbow strike. With the ban now lifted, Jon Jones hopes the authority will also remove the disqualification ruling, making his record unblemished.

In a recent conversation with Kevin Iole, Jones expressed his excitement about the change. He said, “That’s the biggest feeling I had when I learned that the rule is no more… On the other hand, I accept the move more than ever now. I’ve been training extensively on different 12-6 elbow attacks… You train yourself not to go there, and now to be able to use that strike… I mean, it’s a very devastating strike… I’m excited to, hopefully, be one of the first UFC athletes to legally display it.”

What are your thoughts on Daniel Cormier revealing Jon Jones’ techniques? Do you think Cormier’s insights could give Stipe Miocic an advantage, considering Miocic is more of a striker, while ‘Bones’ is known for an overall balanced approach? Will Jones employ the same strategies against a primarily striking-focused opponent like Miocic, rather than a wrestler? Drop your opinion below.