In the heart of Madison Square Garden, Jon Jones reminded the MMA sphere why he’s on practically every Mt. Rushmore list of mixed martial arts greatness! Taking on Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, Jones was returning from a torn pectoral tendon that had led to their UFC 295 clash being canceled. But Jones didn’t just defend his undisputed heavyweight title—he made a statement.

With razor-sharp precision and a hint of flair, ‘Bones’ dismantled Miocic in three rounds, capping off an electrifying night with a spinning back kick that left fans breathless. But the drama didn’t end there. What came after the fight might have been just as explosive as the action inside the Octagon!

Jon Jones leaves Tom Aspinall and UFC fans in suspense after dominant UFC 309 win

From the opening bell, Jon Jones established control. A thunderous body kick opened the exchange, and while Miocic countered with a straight punch, Jones’ dominance became evident. His 84.5-inch reach served as a fortress, keeping the former champion at a distance. When Jones landed a perfectly timed trip, taking Miocic to the mat, the real damage began. Razor-sharp elbows rained down relentlessly, leaving Miocic bloodied and battered.

As the UFC 309 headliner progressed, Jones maintained his dominance with a methodical assault. Miocic tried to rally with uppercuts and moments of dirty boxing, but Jones’ strikes were more precise, his game plan unrelenting. The third round brought the climax with Jones landing a spinning back kick to the ribs with thunderous impact, crumpling the Ohio native to the canvas.

In his victory celebration, Jones also payed tribute to 47th President elect-Donald Trump who was present cage-side at the event by copying his dance moves! The moment drew a lot of laughs from the commentary team, but when Joe Rogan handed him the microphone after the win, Jones surprisingly stated, “I’ve decided, that maybe I will not retire. I have some conversations to have with Dana and Hunter, and we have some negotiating to do. And if everything goes right, maybe we’ll give you guys what you want to see.”

When Rogan pressed him on what was next, Jones remained coy, hinting at potential negotiations with the UFC brass. Would it be a showdown with Alex Pereira at heavyweight? A clash with Tom Aspinall to unify the titles?  Jones simply stated, “You know, I know we have options, and I’m just gonna see what uncle Dana wants, and what uncle Hunter wants and you guys will hear about it soon, I’m sure.”

It remains to be seen if Jones will now face Tom Aspinall to silence the criticism of him ‘ducking’ the British interim champion that has dominated the conversations recently. But even as the fans wait for what’s next for Jon Jones, UFC 309 also marked the final appearance of one of the greatest heavyweights to lace up a pair of UFC gloves!

Stipe Miocic bids farewell to the Octagon as he announces his retirement  

Stipe Miocic left it all inside the Octagon at UFC 309. The 2-time UFC heavyweight champion had last fought at UFC 260 against Francis Ngannou where he lost his title to the Cameroonian. Following a year-long wait after his UFC 295 matchup against Jones got canceled, the moment of truth finally arrived when he stepped into the cage against Jon Jones.

Miocic put up a solid performance, trying to negate Jones’s reach advantage by timing his counters and trying to dirty box in the clinch. But Jones’ relentless pressure and feints kept the heavyweight legend guessing while leg and body kicks chipped away at his resolve. Then came the exclamation point—a spinning back kick to the ribs that crumpled Miocic to the mat and the fight ended.

During his post-fight interview, Stipe Miocic confessed to Joe Rogan, “I’m done, I’m hanging them up, I’m retiring, thank god.” His announcement of retirement, delivered with quiet humility, closed a chapter on a career defined by grit and greatness. Miocic leaves behind a legacy that few can match—a firefighter turned two-time champion who holds the record for most consecutive title defenses in UFC heavyweight history with three to his name!

Yet, the future of the 265 lbs. division now hinges on Jon Jones. Tom Aspinall holds the interim title and fans and critics alike are already calling for the showdown that could define this generation of heavyweights. Will Jones rise to the occasion and embrace the challenge, or will Aspinall remain as the name left unsaid in the post-fight interviews? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!