Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic Confirmed for UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden

According to UFC President Dana White, the highly anticipated next fight of Jon Jones has been officially set. On November 16, Jones will step into the Octagon to defend his heavyweight title against former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic at Madison Square Garden in New York. The fight will headline UFC 309, marking Jones’ first title defense since capturing the vacant belt earlier this year.

The reigning heavyweight king, Jon “Bones” Jones, will aim to solidify his legacy further when he defends his crown against the formidable Stipe Miocic. Known as one of the greatest fighters in MMA history, Jones boasts an impressive resume, having defeated past and future champions such as Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Lyoto Machida, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Glover Teixeira, Rashad Evans, and Daniel Cormier. After a long hiatus and a move up from light heavyweight, Jones captured the vacant heavyweight title earlier in 2023 and has been inactive since.

Stipe Miocic, born in the United States, is no stranger to high-stakes fights. As a former UFC heavyweight champion with a record four successful title defenses, Miocic has fought and defeated some of the biggest names in the sport, including Junior dos Santos, Alistair Overeem, Fabrício Werdum, and Mark Hunt. Miocic last competed in 2021 and has not tasted victory since 2020, but he remains a dangerous opponent with a wealth of experience and championship pedigree.

While fans have eagerly awaited Miocic’s return, the former champion expressed frustration with the UFC, stating that the promotion forced him to wait until 2024 to fight Jones, which was not his choice. Despite the delay, Miocic is now ready to challenge Jones and reclaim his place atop the heavyweight division.

Dana White hinted at the potential retirement of Miocic following the bout with Jones. If Jones secures a victory, his next likely opponent would be the explosive interim UFC champion, Tom Aspinall, though nothing has been confirmed. White mentioned, “Jon Jones will fight at Madison Square Garden in November. After that, whether he or Stipe wins, we’ll see what happens next. Who’s going to retire, or what happens? Do I think Stipe will retire? I think so… But I know for sure if Jon Jones wins that fight with all the talk out there, there’s no way he doesn’t fight Aspinall.”

As the date draws closer, UFC 309 is shaping up to be a monumental event, with the legendary Jon Jones defending his title against one of the most decorated heavyweights in UFC history, Stipe Miocic. Fans worldwide eagerly anticipate this battle at Madison Square Garden, where history is set to be made on November 16.