Jon Jones’ Spectacular Knockout Victory
Jon Jones showcased his exceptional skills on Saturday, delivering a stunning knockout against Stipe Miocic with a spinning back kick in the third round of their heavyweight championship fight at UFC 309 inside Madison Square Garden. With this victory, the fight world eagerly anticipates a potential heavyweight title unification bout.
Dominating Performance
Jones (28-1) dominated Miocic (20-5) en route to a TKO victory at 4:29 of the third round. The matchup was initially scheduled for November 2023, but Jones had to withdraw due to a torn pectoral muscle. Leading up to Saturday, much of the prefight talk centered on whether Jones would face interim champion Tom Aspinall if he won.
Open to New Challenges
After defeating Miocic, Jones expressed his openness to the challenge. “I’ve decided maybe I will not retire,” Jones said, adding that he will have conversations with UFC CEO Dana White and chief business officer Hunter Campbell. “We’ll negotiate. If everything goes right, maybe we’ll give you guys what you want to see.”
Miocic’s Retirement
Miocic, 42, who waited an entire year for Jones’ return, announced his retirement in the Octagon after the loss. The former two-time champion hadn’t fought since 2021 before facing Jones on Saturday. Despite Miocic’s layoff, the focus was on Jones’ impressive performance rather than Miocic’s rustiness.
Jones’ Mastery in the Octagon
A near-consensus pick for the greatest fighter of all time, Jones showcased his full arsenal in his first knockout win since December 2018. He took Miocic down in the opening round and tormented him with vicious elbows from the top position. Jones hurt Miocic with front kicks to the body in the second and third rounds and nearly dropped him with a jab. The final blow was a spinning back kick to Miocic’s midsection that sent him to his knees, culminating in a brutal end to a one-sided fight.
Impressive Stats
According to UFC Stats, Miocic landed 42 strikes, none of which were particularly memorable, compared to Jones’ 104 strikes. Jones’ defense was superb throughout the night, and he made Miocic pay with counterpunches and knees in the clinch.
“He’s really, really good,” Jones said of Miocic. “He’s tough, durable. I hit him with some decent shots, and he kept coming forward. Everyone knows Stipe isn’t the biggest heavyweight. He comes lean, in great shape. I watched him have wars with Daniel Cormier and a lot of guys, and they were rock ’em, sock ’em. He doesn’t react much to getting hit in the face, so our plan was to get him in the body.”
Aspinall’s Presence
Tom Aspinall (15-3) was in New York for UFC 309 and sat cageside for the main event. The 31-year-old English champion has been a dominant force in the heavyweight division, recording first-round finishes in seven of his nine UFC appearances. He won the UFC’s interim title in November 2023 and defended it against Curtis Blaydes in July. Before Saturday, Jones had shown no interest in facing Aspinall, even calling him a “nobody.” Jones had stated he would rather vacate the heavyweight title than face Aspinall in the Octagon. Whether this was a negotiation tactic or a change of heart, a unification bout now seems very much on the table.
Extending the Record
With this victory, Jones extended his UFC record to 16 title fight wins, solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest fighters in the sport’s history.