Nov 13, 2024; New York, New York, USA; UFC blended martial arts heavyweight champion Jon Jones poses for a photograph earlier than a sport between the New York Knicks and the Chicago Bulls at Madison Sq. Backyard. Obligatory Credit score: John Jones-Imagn Pictures Jon Jones returns to the Octagon for the primary time in 20 months when he places his heavyweight title on the road in opposition to Stipe Miocic in UFC 309 on Saturday in New York.
Jones (27-1 MMA) final fought in March 2023, when he received the then-vacant heavyweight title in opposition to Ciryl Gane with a first-round submission at UFC 285.
It was Jones’ first struggle in three years after he vacated the sunshine heavyweight championship, which ended a decade-long stretch of title defenses in opposition to a number of the sport’s former champions, together with Quinton Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Mauricio Rua and Rashad Evans.
Jones stated Thursday he is not wanting previous Miocic (20-4 MMA) to deal with different noteworthy challengers, resembling UFC gentle heavyweight champion Alex Pereira or interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall.
“Proper now, I am centered on Saturday,” Jones stated. “Saturday is just some days away, and that is the largest factor for me proper now.”
Miocic, the previous UFC heavyweight champion, is recent off a prolonged layoff from the game. He final competed at UFC 260 in March 2021 in opposition to Francis Ngannou, the present PFL champion. Ngannou received the struggle by knockout to change into the UFC champion on the time, starting an period that noticed him defend the belt simply as soon as amidst eventual failed contract negotiations with the promotion.
Miocic known as out Las Vegas oddsmakers, suggesting he should show his doubters flawed once more as a large betting underdog.
“Nothing new to me,” Miocic stated. “I practice simply as exhausting as anybody else.”
He added, “Vegas hates me. I am gonna maintain it that manner.”
The co-main occasion contains a rematch of a UFC light-weight title bout from 2021. Charles Oliveira (34-10 MMA), who received the belt three years earlier than shedding it for lacking weight the following yr, opposes Michael Chandler (23-8 MMA) in a non-championship match. The winner will doubtless stay in title rivalry getting into 2025.
Chandler initially was scheduled to face Conor McGregor in June in the principle occasion of UFC 303, however a toe damage sidelined McGregor.
UFC 309 most important card (begin time 10 p.m. ET, ESPN+ PPV)
Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic, for Jones’ UFC heavyweight title
Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler, light-weight
Bo Nickal vs. Paul Craig, middleweight
Viviane Araujo vs. Karine Silva, girls’s flyweight
Mauricio Ruffy vs. James Llontop, catchweight
–Discipline Degree Media