NEW YORK -- In the main-event of UFC 309, Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones and former champion Stipe Miocic, who last fought in 2021, met in a historic championship bout, promoted as the battle between the greatest MMA fighter of of all time and the greatest UFC heavyweight in history. With both fighters at the tail end of their storied careers—Jones at 37 and Miocic at 42—questions about how age would influence the fight loomed large.
From the outset of the fight, Jones delivered a dominant performance that left little doubt of his ability to continue fighting inside the octagon. Throughout the first two rounds, Jones methodically dismantled Miocic with precise striking and creative offense, consistently finding success while avoiding any real damage. Miocic, though showing flashes of his former self, appeared slowed by his age, struggling to keep pace with Jones' speed and adaptability. The bout came to a decisive end in the third round, when Jones landed a spinning body kick to crumple Miocic, securing a third-round TKO victory and further solidifying his unmatched legacy.
Aside from the Jones-Miocic fight, the main question surrounding this fight-week has been whether or not Jones would retire after his performance at UFC 309. During his post fight interview, Jones gave the crowd an answer.
"As far as my future in the octagon, I've decided that maybe I will not retire," Jones said. "We have negotiating to do, and if everything goes right, maybe we'll give you guys what you want to see."
With this comment, Jones is alluding to a potential fight with Interim Heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall; a foreboding presence that Jones has been accused of "ducking" by taking tonight's fight with Miocic.
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In the co-main event, Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira engaged in a high-stakes clash that showcased Oliveira’s technical prowess and Chandler’s relentless determination. From the opening bell, Oliveira quickly asserted dominance, utilizing his elite striking to land crisp, damaging shots on Chandler. He seamlessly transitioned to takedowns, displaying his experienced ground game by controlling Chandler and hunting for submissions throughout the first four rounds. Despite his grappling dominance, Oliveira couldn’t find a finish, and Chandler proved resilient.
In the fifth round, Chandler capitalized on a brief opening, landing a devastating right hand to wobble Oliveira and cause him to drop to the canvas. Following with a barrage of ground-and-pound strikes, Chandler appeared close to pulling off an incredible comeback, though Oliveira managed to weather the storm, regain composure, and reassert control inside the cage. The fight concluded with Oliveira firmly in command, earning a unanimous decision victory. This win further cemented Oliveira’s status as one of the lightweight division’s most complete fighters, and has likely set him up for a future title shot.
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On Dec. 7, the UFC will return to Las Vegas for UFC 310, headlined by Flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja vs. UFC-newcomer Kai Asakura, with undefeated Welterweights Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Garry to face each other in a No.1 contender match as the co-main event.