Certain sections of the MMA community want Jon Jones to butt heads against Tom Aspinall to unify the heavyweight titles, instead of defending his undisputed one against Stipe Miocic. However, other sections of the community believe that there’s a big-fight feel at UFC 309 because the main event will have two bonafide legends scrapping, with high-stakes legacies on the line.

It’s common knowledge that both Jones and Miocic are coming back after long hiatuses. While the champion hasn’t fought since his last outing at UFC 285, the challenger had his last outing in 2021 when he lost to former champion Francis Ngannou at UFC 260. Before making a pick, it’s important to look at the statistics that these two legends have left in their wake. In that vein, let’s take a closer look at the spectacle that is Jon Jones v. Stipe Miocic.

UFC 309: Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic stats

To be honest, Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic have some of the most significant records ever in the UFC. For starters, ‘Bones’, who’s a former light heavyweight champion, defended his 205-lb title a total of thirteen times – the most in that division. On the other hand, the UFC’s resident firefighter defended his heavyweight title a total of four times over two reigns. Furthermore, Miocic is the only UFC heavyweight to have three consecutive title defenses. Statistically, Jones has an upper hand and even edges past Miocic when it comes to ending fights with a finish.

Going by Dana White’s thoughts about Jon Jones, it’s clear that the Albuquerque native has a special place in UFC’s history as a 2-division champ. His 42-year-old rival, however, is not far behind. Stipe Miocic is a pure wrecking machine, boasting a tally of 15 career finishes out of a total of 24 professional bouts. He even holds the record for securing the most knockout wins in title fights in heavyweight history. But like we said earlier, Jones is a little ahead of Miocic on the finishing front, although by not too much. ‘Bones’ has a few more finishes than the former champion, with 17 career finishes that include seven submission wins as well.

It seems like Jon Jones clearly has all the stats for people to put their money on him at UFC 309. But before making a prediction, let’s analyze their fighting styles a bit.

Jones vs. Miocic breakdown and prediction

There were a lot of talks after UFC 285 when Jon Jones made quick work of Ciryl Gane. The lack of a strong wrestling base weighed heavily on Ciryl Gane, literally and figuratively, who couldn’t provide an effective challenge to ‘Bones’, but that might not necessarily be the case at UFC 309. Stipe Miocic has one submission win to go along with his 14 knockouts, however, that win came as a result of his opponent tapping to strikes. However, Miocic is a credentialed wrestler with competent grappling skills, as was evident in his guillotine choke defense against Alistair Overeem or his perfectly timed takedowns of Francis Ngannou in their first meeting.

The part-time firefighter has a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and as an amateur wrestler, he competed in the NCAA Division-1 category during his time at Cleveland State University. Keeping all these factors in mind, some fans believe that the main event of UFC 309 will be a close encounter. Nevertheless, oddsmakers have made their choice as well, giving Jon Jones a slight age advantage over the veteran heavyweight star.

It’s important to note that Jones is one of the most versatile fighters this sport has ever seen. He seems to have an answer to most of his opponents’ moves, making it difficult to predict his movements. When it comes to Miocic, he’s got great wrestling skills and some serious knockout power. Additionally, the former two-time champion has competed in just one particular division and that’s the one he’s conquered in the UFC. So, could the boatload of experience as a heavyweight reap dividends in the fight against Jones? Maybe or maybe not.

Who’ll seal the win? That remains to be seen on November 16th at the grandest arena in the world, Madison Square Garden. Let us know your thoughts in the comments down below.