Jon Jones returns to the Octagon for the primary time in 20 months when he places his heavyweight title on the road towards 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 towards Ciryl Gane with a first-round submission at UFC 285.
It was Jones’ first battle in three years after he vacated the sunshine heavyweight championship, which ended a decade-long stretch of title defenses towards a few of the sport’s former champions, together with Quinton Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Mauricio Rua and Rashad Evans.
Jones mentioned Thursday he is not trying previous Miocic (20-4 MMA) to give attention to different noteworthy challengers, corresponding to UFC mild heavyweight champion Alex Pereira or interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall.
“Proper now, I am targeted on Saturday,” Jones mentioned. “Saturday is only a few days away, and that is the most important factor for me proper now.”
Miocic, the previous UFC heavyweight champion, is contemporary off a prolonged layoff from the game. He final competed at UFC 260 in March 2021 towards Francis Ngannou, the present PFL champion. Ngannou received the battle 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 referred to as out Las Vegas oddsmakers, suggesting he should show his doubters improper once more as a large betting underdog.
“Nothing new to me,” Miocic mentioned. “I prepare simply as arduous as anybody else.”
He added, “Vegas hates me. I am gonna hold 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 seemingly stay in title rivalry coming 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 essential 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
–Subject Stage Media
