The reigning UFC heavyweight champion destroyed Stipe Miocic to notch the first successful defense of his heavyweight title Saturday at New York's Madison Square Garden in the main event of UFC 309. Jones badly damaged Miocic with ground-and-pound elbows in the opening round then wailed away on Miocic's body for the ensuing two frames before sending the former champ home for good with a highlight-reel spinning back kick. It was yet another vintage performance from one of the most talented and decorated MMA fighters to ever lace up a pair of four-ounce gloves.
Afterward, Jones revealed that he does not plan to retire and called to speak with UFC executives Dana White and Hunter Campbell. "If everything goes right," Jones said, "maybe we'll give you guys what you want to see," seemingly referring to a potential unification bout with interim champ Tom Aspinall.
Miocic announced his own retirement following the defeat.
*Bout cancelled on Saturday due to Anders medical issue
LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER139 updates
Featured
Drake Riggs
Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic - Round 3
Big jab from Jones early. Miocic rushes in nearly landing with a huge right hook. Jones' jabs starts connecting frequently. Right straight hurts Miocic badly. They clinch against the cage. The jab stings Miocic. More body kicks from Jones. Miocic jabs in, landing a right hand over the top. Hard left hand lands for Jones. Jones' speed is becoming too much. Miocic dirty boxes his way in for a left. Jones throws a big spinning back kick to the body and Miocic crumples! That was brutal! Jones pounces and this one is over.
Uncrowned Staff
It will never stop amazing me that Christians support a guy who has spent his entire adult life acting like the bad guy in every Bible story but okay.
RESULT: Jon Jones def. Stipe Miocic by TKO at 2:29 of R3
Vicious kick to the ribs. That was one-sided. Wouldn’t be surprised if it’s the last we see of Stipe in the UFC. He was never in it. All Jones from the jump.
Nice double jab starts for Miocic. Jones lands a left hand and Miocic sneaks in an uppercut. Jones kicks to the body. Jab from Miocic gets through. Left hook to the body for Miocic. Big counter left for Jones followed by a body kick. Inside low kick from Jones followed by a straight to the body. Knee to the body from Jones. Jones' jab connects. Miocic sneaks in a right straight. Head kick partially gets through for Jones. Hard inside leg kick for Jones, and another to the body. Miocic grazes his way in with a flurry. Spinning back kick to the body from Jones. Double jab from Miocic before the round ends.
Left hand starts the action from Jones as Miocic counters with a right. Body kick from Jones. Inside low kick from Miocic. Jones returns one. Nice body kick from Jones. Miocic tries to swing into the pocket. Clean outside sweep from Jones plants Miocic, elbow follows. Jones in half guard and more elbows land. Miocic tries to punch from bottom. Big elbows rain from Jones. Miocic works into full guard. Jones ends the round on top in side control with more elbows.
10-8 Jones
Uncrowned Staff
10-9 Jones. Possible 10-8 for the greatest fighter of all-time #UFC309
It cannot be understated how absurd Stipe Miocic pulling off a win would be. An already amazing resume gets literally as absurd as it can if he can add Jon Jones to it.
Oliveira sneaks a knee up the middle as Chanlder pressures. Nasty oblique kick bothers Chandler as he eats a right hand. Another oblique. Massive right hands land and hurt Oliveira! Chandler swings so hard he goes off balance and gives up a grappling exchange. COUNTLESS back of the head strikes from Chandler and the ref completely ignores them. Huge elbows from Chandler as they transition into full guard. Oliveira tosses up a potential triangle. Oliveira lets it go and gets up. Chandler smells blood, hunting, eating a jab. Straight right from Oliveira before a big takedown attempt into a body lock trip yet again. Oliveira threatens with the RNC again, but can't secure anything as Chandler stands and does another drop to his back. He gets up to do it again for a hail mary of sorts. Horn sounds. What an absurd round.
10-9 Chandler. (49-46 Oliveira.)
Uncrowned Staff
That fight was a fever dream inside a UFC octagon #UFC309
Pressure continues early from Oliveira. He eats a left hook for his trouble but walks it off. Straight right sneaks through Chandler's guard. Bicycle knee lands for Oliveira as Chandler fires back. The pocket warfare from the Brazilian has been wild. Oliveira wraps on another body lock and works to Chandler's back again. Chandler rolls onto his knees with an Oliveira backpack tightly strapped to him. Chandler bursts to get in a slightly better position leaning against the cage. Chandler tries to stand with Oliveira on his back as Oliveira locks on a near-choke. "Iron" survives and falls backward.
10-9 Oliveira. (40-36 Oliveira.)
Uncrowned Staff
It's been all Oliveira through 3+ rounds
Uncrowned Staff
Oliveira has just mauled Chandler for this entire fight so far. Getting to be desperation time for Mikey C.
Oliveira starts to utilize front kicks to keep Chandler at bay. Takedown attempt fails as Oliveira keeps on heavy pressure. Sneaky uppercuts for Oliveira on the backed-up Chandler. Hard jab from Chandler then a huge uppercut from Oliveira. Knees and elbows against the cage for Oliveira. Oliveira gets a body lock and just tosses Chandler to the ground and gets his back. Oliveira completely locks up Chandler in a body triangle and begins to work like a python. 12-6 elbows from the back for the crafty "Do Bronx." More elbows before Oliveira starts to squeeze around the chin as he lets go of the body triangle. Chandler needs a finish.
10-9 Oliveira. (30-27 Oliveira.)
Uncrowned Staff
Chandler got taken down, mounted, and really didn’t even try to escape. The whole focus was on survival there.
Hard low kick from Oliveira connects first in the round. Chandler tries to jab to the body into the pocket. Punch combination on the entry for Oliveira pushes Chandler to the cage as he trips and gets chased down. Oliveira lands left hooks, bothering Chandler, who sprints away. Clean 1-2 for "Do Bronx." Oliveira with a nice head kick and knee that Chandler somehow eats. Big swinging left hook from Chandler grazes. Far knee tap takedown from Oliveira lands him in mount against the cage. Nice elbows cutting through on Chandler. Dominant work from the former lightweight champion.