Jon Jones will defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309 tonight, a year after the fight was first scheduled.
Jones and Miocic were due to meet at Madison Square Garden last November, but a torn pectoral muscle forced “Bones” out of the fight – delaying his first title defence by 12 months. Now the former light-heavyweight champion, 37, and heavyweight great Miocic, 42, will meet at MSG at long last, though their fight has proven controversial.
When their bout fell through last year, Tom Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich stepped up, with the Briton knocking out the Russian to become interim champion. Since then, Aspinall has even retained the interim belt – a rare occurrence in the UFC – leading many fans to see him as the true champion.
Jones, meanwhile, has not fought since winning the vacant heavyweight title in March 2023, and Miocic has not fought in almost four years. Furthermore, Miocic’s last fight ended in a vicious KO loss, and he and Jones have both hinted at retirement after tonight’s bout… potentially leaving Aspinall in the lurch.
Follow live updates and results from the main UFC 309 main card and prelims, below.
UFC 309 LIVE
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Jon Jones defends heavyweight title against former champion Stipe Miocic
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Fight was due 12 months ago, but injured Jones withdrew from contest
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Interim champ Tom Aspinall awaits, should neither Jones, 37, nor Miocic, 42, retire
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Co-main event is rematch between Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira
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Oliveira submitted Chandler in 2021 to win vacant lightweight title
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Rematch comes after Chandler waited 18 months for failed Conor McGregor fight
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Chris Weidman vs Eryk Anders cancelled on short notice, with Anders ill
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Trump reported to return to MSG tonight – weeks after controversial rally
UFC 309 LIVE: David Onama vs Roberto Romero
01:50 , Alex Pattle
Round two
Onama tags Romero again, and the latter is on unsteady legs once more. But still he presses forward…
Onama with a clubbing left hook, then a trio of BRUTAL punches. The sound on these shots, jeez.
And down goes Romero again! Onama flies into his guard, and Romero holds on, trying to slow down his opponent.
Another round in the books.
UFC 309 LIVE: David Onama vs Roberto Romero
01:45 , Alex Pattle
Next up, David Onama faces Roberto Romero at lightweight.
Onama was due to face Lucas Almeida at featherweight, but the latter withdrew this week. In steps Romero, with the bout taking place at 155lb, not 145lb.
Round one
Lots of stance switches from Onama, but he’s being too passive early on, as Romero starts very fast!
Plenty of output from Romero, including a slew of low kicks. Good elbow from Onama in the clinch, though.
KNOCKDOWN! Romero drops Onama, before taking the back and trying a rear naked choke!
Onama is lucid enough to fight the hands well, keeping Romero’s arm over his chin – not his neck.
And Onama is able to shake off Romero, while standing up. The pair then grapple against the fence for a while, before separating.
Clean right hook from Romero! Onama felt that… OH!!! But Onama lands hard, and Romero is in a world of hurt!
Onama lands two more mean shots, as Romero’s legs wobble all over the place, and eventually Romero falls! He survives to the buzzer, though!
WHAT A ROUND.
UFC 309 LIVE: Marcin Tybura vs Jhonata Diniz
01:26 , Alex Pattle
Round one
Tybura is tagged with a left hand while shooting for a takedown! He falls to his back, and Diniz moves into half-guard, where he rains down some elbows.
Tybura does well to sweep, and now he’s in Diniz’s half-guard, landing his own shots. Diniz can’t get out from under his opponent.
Tybura eventually moves to mount, where he ends the round in control.
Round two
Diniz presses forward and lands a cross, but Tybura responds with a hard left hand. One-two is there for Diniz.
Tybura with a takedown, then some good work from half-guard. Like in the first round, he moves to mount…
Late in the round, Tybura starts to land some vicious elbows! He slices open Diniz, who is in real trouble!
Diniz makes it to the bell, but how far will he make it through round three?
OH! He won’t even make it INTO round three! A doctor advises referee Herb Dean to stop the fight, to save Diniz – whose face is a mess. Good call.
Marcin Tybura def. Jhonata Diniz via second-round TKO (doctor stoppage, 5:00)
UFC 309 LIVE: Regular prelims
01:07 , Alex Pattle
Onto the regular prelims! In reverse order, we’ve got:
Jonathan Martinez vs Marcus McGhee (bantamweight)
Jim Miller vs Damon Jackson (lightweight)
David Onama vs Roberto Romero (lightweight)
Marcin Tybura vs Jhonata Diniz (heavyweight)
A reminder that Chris Weidman vs Eryk Anders was cancelled on VERY short notice, due to Anders being ill.
UFC 309 LIVE: Mickey Gall vs Ramiz Brahimaj
00:45 , Alex Pattle
Next up, Mickey Gall vs Ramiz Brahimaj at welterweight.
Gall has had an underwhelming UFC career in all honesty, but it began with his famous submission of CM Punk in 2016 – when the latter, a famous WWE star, made his MMA debut.
Round one
Gall’s jiu-jitsu has always been his greatest strength, but he’s been working on his striking in recent times. Can he show improvements here?
One or two clean, well-timed crosses suggest he can. But Brahimaj has moments of success in the opening minutes, too, including a grazing knee in the clinch.
Ohhhh!!!! And now Brahimaj SLEEPS Gall!
He switches stances mid-combination, landing a left hook and right hook, and the latter punch foldssssss Gall.
Ramiz Brahimaj def. Mickey Gall via first-round KO (right hook, 2:55)
UFC 309 LIVE: Bassil Hafez vs Oban Elliott
00:24 , Alex Pattle
Round two
Some better work from Hafez as the round goes on, but the fight is still largely being fought on Elliott’s terms.
The Welshman is managing range well, utilising kicks nicely. He lands a crisp left hook now.
Elliott is also starting to press forward more. Both men land in a tense exchange.
Elliott with a front kick to the face! He might have been trying a crescent kick, in fact. He then leans back to avoid a one-two; that was close.
Round three
OH! Elliott gets the finish early in round three!
He drops Hafez with a brutal overhand right, then pours on punches and hammer fists! Eventually, referee Marc Goddard steps in!
In truth, Elliott might have been allowed to land a few shots too many there…
It looked like he knocked out Hafez, then woke him back up, before Goddard finally intervened.
Oban Elliott def. Bassil Hafez via third-round KO (punches and hammer fists, 0:40)
UFC 309 LIVE: Bassil Hafez vs Oban Elliott
00:16 , Alex Pattle
Onto welterweight action, between Bassil Hafez and Wales’s Oban Elliott.
Round one
Both men stand orthodox. There’s some early grappling between the pair, against the fence, initiated by Hafez.
They separate, and Elliott lands a hard body kick. He throws more and eventually goes too low on one, and is warned.
More body kicks by the Welshman, but they’re front kicks now.
Hafez has the centre of the ring and misses with a winging overhand right. He lands a spiteful kick of his own, and Elliott wags his finger to say it didn’t hurt him.
Good first round for Elliott.
UFC 309 LIVE: Donald Trump reported to return to MSG tonight – weeks after controversial rally
00:06 , Alex Pattle
Donald Trump will reportedly return to Madison Square Garden tonight, attending UFC 309 with Dana White – president of the mixed martial arts promotion.
Trump has attended numerous UFC events with White, who spoke at the president-elect’s victory celebration earlier this month in Mar-a-Lago. And this evening, he is expected to be ringside at UFC 309 in New York City’s MSG, according to the New York Post.
It was there that Trump hosted a controversial rally just a few weeks ago, with comedian Tony Hinchcliffe delivering racist jokes inside the world-famous arena.
More here:
Donald Trump to return to MSG weeks after controversial rally for UFC 309 – reports
UFC 309 LIVE: Veronica Hardy vs Eduarda Moura
Saturday 16 November 2024 23:58 , Alex Pattle
Round three
Before the final round, Hardy’s husband – in her corner – calls for more action and more risks.
Hardy obliges as the round progresses, but will it be enough as we go to the judges’ scorecards?
Let’s see…
Not enough! Moura gets it done!
Eduarda Moura def. Veronica Hardy via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
UFC 309 LIVE: Veronica Hardy vs Eduarda Moura
Saturday 16 November 2024 23:51 , Alex Pattle
Round one
Hardy, with her husband in her corner, stands southpaw. Moura is orthodox.
Moura takes the centre of the ring for most of the first round, pressing forward. She switches stances here and there.
Hardy invests in the body of her opponent throughout.
Moura with a fair few missed punches from range, loading up big.
Hardy with a body kick late in the round, and Moura catches it, taking down her opponent.
Round two
Another takedown for Moura, who drags down Hardy by the cage wall.
Moura has the back, but Hardy does well to stand quite quickly.
Moura controls Hardy for the bulk of the round, and late on, she ends up in Hardy’s guard by the fence.
Hard elbow from Moura, who then stands and eats a couple of up-kicks by Hardy.
UFC 309 LIVE: Veronica Hardy vs Eduarda Moura
Saturday 16 November 2024 23:33 , Alex Pattle
Okay, the first fight is finally here; the broadcast team had to fill some time, of course, with Weidman vs Anders cancelled.
Veronica Hardy vs Eduarda Moura, a women’s flyweight contest, gets us started.
Hardy is the wife of former UFC title challenger Dan Hardy.
UFC 309 LIVE: Michael Bisping interview
Saturday 16 November 2024 22:58 , Alex Pattle
We spoke to UFC legend Michael Bisping about tonight’s main event, and he answered some of the overlooked questions ahead of Jones vs Miocic:
Jones vs Miocic won’t bring ‘traditional’ KO, Michael Bisping predicts
UFC 309 LIVE: Chandler vs Oliveira in co-main event
Saturday 16 November 2024 22:54 , Alex Pattle
UFC 309 LIVE: Dana White confirms plans for Jones vs Tom Aspinall
Saturday 16 November 2024 22:52 , Alex Pattle
Jones has said he has no interest in facing Aspinall, if he gets past Miocic tonight.
But UFC president Dana White will seemingly not let Jones off that easy…
Dana White confirms UFC plans for Jon Jones v Tom Aspinall
UFC 309 LIVE: Odds
Saturday 16 November 2024 22:45 , Alex Pattle
Jones – 2/13
Miocic – 21/4
Via Betway.
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UFC 309 LIVE: Fight card in full – prelims and main card
Saturday 16 November 2024 22:37 , Alex Pattle
Main card
Jon Jones (champion) vs Stipe Miocic (heavyweight title)
Charles Oliveira vs Michael Chandler 2 (lightweight, five rounds)
Bo Nickal vs Paul Craig (middleweight)
Viviane Araujo vs Karine Silva (women’s flyweight)
Mauricio Ruffy vs James Llontop (lightweight)
Prelims
Jonathan Martinez vs Marcus McGhee (bantamweight)
Jim Miller vs Damon Jackson (lightweight)
David Onama vs Roberto Romero (lightweight)
Marcin Tybura vs Jhonata Diniz (heavyweight)
Early prelims
Mickey Gall vs Ramiz Brahimaj (welterweight)
Bassil Hafez vs Oban Elliott (welterweight)
Veronica Hardy vs Eduarda Moura (women’s flyweight)
Cancelled on short notice: Chris Weidman vs Eryk Anders (middleweight)
UFC 309 card in full as Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic headlines
UFC 309 LIVE: How to watch
Saturday 16 November 2024 22:25 , Alex Pattle
The card will air live on TNT Sports Box Office in the UK at a cost of £19.99, with the broadcaster’s app and website also streaming the fights. Discovery+ will also air the action in the UK, with the same pay-per-view cost applying. In the US, ESPN+ will stream the event live on pay-per-view for $69.99, as will the UFC’s Fight Pass.
If you want to stream major sporting events while you are travelling or watching from abroad you’ll need a VPN. Get the best VPN deals in the UK. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are, and also with the terms of their service provider.
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How to watch Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 online and on TV
UFC 309 LIVE: Start time
Saturday 16 November 2024 22:10 , Alex Pattle
UFC 309 will take place at Madison Square Garden in New York City tonight.
The early prelims are due to begin at 11pm GMT (3pm PT, 5pm CT, 6pm ET), with the prelims following at 1am GMT on Sunday (5pm PT, 7pm CT, 8pm ET on Saturday). The main card is then set for 3am GMT on Sunday (7pm PT, 9pm CT, 10pm ET on Saturday).
What time does Jon Jones fight Stipe Miocic at UFC 309?
UFC 309 LIVE
Saturday 16 November 2024 22:00 , Alex Pattle
Jon Jones will defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309 tonight, a year after the fight was first scheduled.
Jones and Miocic were due to meet at Madison Square Garden last November, but a torn pectoral muscle forced “Bones” out of the fight – delaying his first title defence by 12 months. Now the former light-heavyweight champion, 37, and heavyweight great Miocic, 42, will meet at MSG at long last, though their fight has proven controversial.
When their bout fell through last year, Tom Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich stepped up, with the Briton knocking out the Russian to become interim champion. Since then, Aspinall has even retained the interim belt – a rare occurrence in the UFC – leading many fans to see him as the true champion.
Jones, meanwhile, has not fought since winning the vacant heavyweight title in March 2023, and Miocic has not fought in almost four years. Furthermore, Miocic’s last fight ended in a vicious KO loss, and he and Jones have both hinted at retirement after tonight’s bout… potentially leaving Aspinall in the lurch.