UFC 309 LIVE: Jon Jones stops Stipe Miocic to retain heavyweight title
Re-live the action after Jones beat Miocic in round three to keep the heavyweight belt
Jon Jones retained his heavyweight title with a stunning stoppage of Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, finishing the legend with a spinning back kick to the body.
The fight had proven controversial, with few fans wishing to see Jones, 37, face Miocic, 42, and many instead desiring a match-up between the champion and Tom Aspinall. Aspinall won the interim belt last November, after Jones vs Miocic fell through when Jones suffered an injury, and the Briton even retained the gold in July – in a rare occurrence in the UFC.
But in a move that has angered fans, Jones has long claimed he will not fight Aspinall, who was in the crowd at Madison Square Garden to watch UFC 309 on Saturday (16 November). And even after beating Miocic, Jones did not address the prospect of unifying the titles with Aspinall.
Jones was admittedly impressive against Miocic, dominating the former champion in round one – tripping his compatriot and raining down elbows for the majority of the round. Miocic showed impressive resilience, but he never truly threatened Jones, who looked better in every department and sealed the finish in round three, dropping his opponent with a spinning back kick to the body.
Jones rushed to pour on ground and pound, and referee Herb Dean quickly ended the fight. Re-live all the action from UFC 309 below.
UFC 309 LIVE: Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic
Round one
Jones starts southpaw, while Miocic is orthodox. Jones lands a cross, but Miocic connects with a counter hook. “Stipe” is the chant in MSG.
Hard low kick by Jones. Miocic just misses with a cross. Jones kicks to the body. Miocic presses forward with straight punches. Jones skips off to the side.
Jones with a well-timed trip! Harsh elbow from side control! He’s always so mean. Another elbow. Jones moves into half-guard and lands more elbows, plus some punches.
Plenty of time left in this round, with Miocic in a bad spot. Further elbows from Jones. His ground and pound is always so effective.
Miocic is trying to make space to stand, but Jones is keeping him down and raining down big elbows again! Miocic somehow survives...
I don’t know how Miocic isn’t cut! He’s at least got Jones in his guard now, a slight improvement.
One minute left in this opening round. Jones stands, then comes back down into side control. How on earth did Miocic make it to the buzzer?
UFC 309 LIVE: Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic
Onto the main event.
Jon Jones will defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic, a year after the fight was first scheduled.
Jones and Miocic were due to meet at Madison Square Garden last November, but a torn pectoral muscle forced “Bones” out of the fight – delaying his first title defence by 12 months. Now the former light-heavyweight champion, 37, and heavyweight great Miocic, 42, will meet at MSG at long last, though their fight has proven controversial.
When their bout fell through last year, Tom Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich stepped up, with the Briton knocking out the Russian to become interim champion. Since then, Aspinall has even retained the interim belt – a rare occurrence in the UFC – leading many fans to see him as the true champion.
Jones, meanwhile, has not fought since winning the vacant heavyweight title in March 2023, and Miocic has not fought in almost four years. Furthermore, Miocic’s last fight ended in a vicious KO loss, and he and Jones have both hinted at retirement after tonight’s bout... potentially leaving Aspinall in the lurch.
The main event is moments away. Oh, and Aspinall is in the crowd, by the way...
UFC 309: Charles Oliveira vs Michael Chandler 2
Charles Oliveira def. Michael Chandler via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-45).
So, every judge has it four rounds to one, with one of them giving the former champ a 10-8.
The final round was Chandler’s, of course, but the rest were Oliveira’s.
UFC 309: Charles Oliveira vs Michael Chandler 2
Round five
Oliveira motions like he wants to share a prayer with Chandler, who is having none of it. He doesn’t have a second to waste here.
Oliveira shoots for a takedown from range, but he’s denied. Right hook by Chandler, then a left, and a massive right hand!! Oliveira stumbles back!!
But Chandler misses with a left hook, swings himself off balance, and a grappling change ensues! What is happening?!
Chandler is in control, landing tons of hammer fists! WOW! Is Chandler about to steal a comeback win?! Oliveira manages to hold on, keeping Chandler close, denying the American room to strike!
Classic Oliveira, too: he recovers enough to work on a triangle! What a wild round. Chandler wriggles free and stands, allowing Oliveira back up.
Left hook by Chandler. Cross by Oliveira. Chandler beckons him on. Oliveira shoots and drags down Chandler! Ohhhhh, that’s surely game over!
Yet again, Oliveira has the back and tries a rear naked choke. One minute to go. Chandler stands, carrying Oliveira on his back, then jumps to the mat – slamming Oliveira, as he did in the first fight! He gets up, and does it again! What are we seeing?! He’s so strong!
The buzzer sounds. What a fight. Oliveira will take it.
UFC 309: Charles Oliveira vs Michael Chandler 2
Round four
Chandler needs a finish in the next two rounds, or a big enough moment for a 10-8 round – and the latter would only get him a draw, anyway.
Jumping knee from Oliveira, but Chandler comes back with a trio of hard punches! Oliveira grabs a body lock and tries a trip... and eventually gets it.
Oliveira has the back and is trying a rear naked choke again. He’s also keeping his options open, though, isolating one of Chandler’s arms – with an armbar or arm-triangle on the cards...
Oliveira gets very close on the rear naked choke, but Chandler defends so well! Thirty seconds left in this frame...
Again, Chandler survives to the buzzer. But he’s four rounds down, and he needs a stoppage to win this.
UFC 309: Charles Oliveira vs Michael Chandler 2
Round three
It feels as though Oliveira is closing in on victory, but as mentioned earlier, Chandler is a wildcard...
He marches forward and bounces in front of Oliveira. Oliveira reverses the pressure, though, and shoots for a takedown. Good sprawl by Chandler, but he’s constantly having to move left and right against the cage, in a panic.
Oliveira is unloading shots now, and he’s so accurate. Stern jab by Chandler, though, then a cross. Uppercut by Oliveira, and a jumping knee.
Cross by Chandler. Left hook, too. Another knee by Oliveira, then an elbow and an uppercut. He gets another takedown! He immediately gets the back, too, and works on a rear naked choke...
Chandler defends fairly well, but Oliveira mixes it up with some hard elbows and body punches. Ninety seconds left in the round.
Oliveira has a face crank, but Chandler fights free... He makes it to the buzzer! But he must have that sinking feeling...
UFC 309: Charles Oliveira vs Michael Chandler 2
Round two
Their first fight ended about 15 seconds into round two. They’ve just crossed that point. Nice jab by Chandler, then a cross to the body.
Now Oliveira steps forward and lands a punch, and Chandler scrambles away, tripping in the process! Oliveira with another big right hand, and Chandler looks buzzed, trapped by the fence! He tries to laugh it off, but...
Oliveira is stalking forward. Chandler partially lands an uppercut, but it doesn’t deter Oliveira. Great knee by Oliveira. Chandler eats it well, and now he’s the one moving forward!
Another trip by Oliveira, and he lands in mount, wow! He’s got Chandler by the fence. Nasty elbows by Oliveira. Chandler is intermittently trying to bridge and create space – but to no avail.
More slashing elbows, and Chandler’s forehead has opened up. Chandler makes it to the buzzer, but he’s two rounds down now – and sporting some damage.
UFC 309: Charles Oliveira vs Michael Chandler 2
Round one
Both men stand orthodox. They skip to the middle of the ring. Chandler blocks a front kick. Another one misses for Oliveira. The Brazilian is a fan favourite, but the MSG crowd is chanting “USA!”
Oliveira keeps touching his left eye. Was he poked? Is there something in it? Now he seems okay... He lands a front kick at last. And another.
A replay suggests Oliveira was accidentally poked in the eye. Chandler fights behind his jab for now. He lands a cross to the body. Single-leg by Oliveira, driving Chandler to the fence, and a great trip!
Oliveira is working on a leg lock... He’s sat on Chandler, holding a leg with his right arm, and threatening hammer fists with his left.
The position changes somewhat, with Oliveira now in a version of half-guard. He’s throwing body shots from above. He’s shimmying, too, trying to free his leg to reach mount.
One minute left in round one. Oliveira seems content to just hold Chandler and wear down on him. Chandler is throwing punches from below.
UFC 309: Charles Oliveira vs Michael Chandler 2
Onto the co-main event, as Michael Chandler – who finally gave up on fighting Conor McGregor after nearly two years of waiting – aims to avenge a loss to Charles Oliveira.
Their first fight, in May 2021, was fantastic, with Chandler so close to winning, only to lose by TKO.
With that, Oliveira won the vacant lightweight title.
Five rounds scheduled here.
UFC 309: Bo Nickal vs Paul Craig
Round three
Massive overhand right from Nickal, but the same trend continues: Craig eats it well.
There’s a period of inactivity, and Craig taunts Nickal. Meanwhile, the crowd boos.
Hard low kick by Nickal. Another overhand left, and Craig felt this one more than the others! He backs up to the fence, eyes wide, but Nickal isn’t throwing any follow-ups!
Nickal allowed Craig to recover there, and the Scot comes forward now. He is cut, though, around his right eye.
The crowd, which was chanting for Nickal before, is now saying: “O-ver-rat-ed.” Craig addresses the sound, making sure Nickal is listening.
Bo Nickal def. Paul Craig via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27).
Boos for Nickal, who stays unbeaten!
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