JON JONES makes his grand return to the UFC this weekend for the first defence of his heavyweight title.
Jones, a bonafide UFC legend, is fighting in just his second fight at heavyweight fight since vacating the 205lbs title in the summer of 2020.
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The 37-year-old claimed the vacant heavyweight crown last March with a two-minute demolition of Ciryl Gane at UFC 285.
And the Hall of Famer will make his first defence of the belt against former champion Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309 in New York City.
Former two-time champion Miocic will provide Jones with the toughest test of his brief heavyweight career.
But the Cleveland clubber hasn’t been in action for three-and-a-half years, following a brutal knockout defeat at the hands of Francis Ngannou in his last octagon outing.
Clashes with both Ngannou and current interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall have been touted for Jones should emerge from his first heavyweight title defence victorious.
But Miocic is up next, and it should be a cracker.
When is UFC 309?
- UFC 309: Jones vs Miocic will take place on Saturday, November 16.
- The early prelims will start a 11pm GMT, and the prelims will get going from 1am in the early hours of November 17.
- The main card begins at 3am with the main event likely to kick off closer to 5am.
- Madison Square Garden in New York will play host.
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How to Watch UFC 309
The UFC makes it’s annual visit to New York City on November 16 for another blockbuster pay-per-view card.
UFC 309 will take place at the iconic Madison Square Garden, which provided some unforgettable moments since mixed martial arts was legalised in New York state in 2016.
Topping the bill at the ‘World’s Most Famous Arena’ is the eagerly-anticipated heavyweight title fight between champion Jon Jones and former titleholder Stipe Miocic.
And in the co-main event of the evening, Michael Chandler will throw down with former lightweight champion and fellow fan favourite Charles Oliveira.
UFC 309 is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated cards of what has been another massive year for MMA’s top promotion.
And fans in the UK and Ireland can watch all the action from what promises to be an incredible night at MSG live on TNT Sports Box Office.
The penultimate pay-per-view card of the year will be available to purchase for a mere £19.99.
UFC 309 will also be available to buy on Discovery+, EE TV, Prime Video, Virgin Media TV and Sky Sports.
And fight fans don’t need to subscribe to TNT Sports to buy the star-studded event.
Watch UFC 309: Jones v Miocic exclusively live on TNT Sports Box Office from 1am on Saturday 16 November.
For more info visit: tntsports.co.uk/boxoffice
UFC 309 stream and TV channel
- UFC 309 will be shown live on TNT Sports in the UK.
- You can live stream all the action from the Discovery+ app, which is available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.
UFC 309 full card
Jones’ clash against Miocic is the main event but elsewhere on the card, Charles Oliveira takes on Michael Chandler in an exciting lightweight contest.
Bo Nickal also takes a step up as he faces Paul Craig while UFC legend Chris Weidman faces Eryk Anders.
Main card
- Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic – for UFC Heavyweight Championship
- Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler
- Viviane Araujo vs. Karine Silva
- Bo Nickal vs. Paul Craig
- Chris Weidman vs. Eryk Anders
Preliminary card
- Nikita Krylov vs. Azamat Murzakanov
- Jonathan Martinez vs. Marcus McGhee
- Jim Miller vs. Damon Jackson
Early preliminary card
- Mickey Gall vs. Ramiz Brahimaj
- Bassil Hafez vs. Oban Elliott
- Veronica Hardy vs. Eduarda Moura
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What’s been said?
When asked if he could call it a day after beating Miocic, Jones said: “You know I feel like I’ve been debating on whether I’m going to retire or not.
“I really don’t know if I’m going to retire or not. I feel like I’m basing a lot of whether I retire or not on my performance.”
Miocic said of potential retirement: “I think every fight, I’m always preparing for my last one.
“I always thought about retiring after my first UFC fight.
“I say that all the time. Who wants to get beat up for 10 weeks, 12 weeks, come back and do it again?
“I say that all the time. Who wants to get beat up for 10 weeks, 12 weeks, come back and do it again?
“I love what I do and it’s fun. So we’ll see but right now my task at hand is Jon. That’s all I care about. That’s what I’m thinking about.”
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Retirement U-Turn
Jones revealed during the UFC 309 media day that he’s willing to postpone retirement if they offer him a blockbuster showdown with fan favourite Alex Pereira.
He told SunSport at the UFC 309 media day: “The main goal is to get past Stipe.
“And if I can do it in a really dominant, devastating fashion, then the desire in my heart would be like, ‘Okay, now it’s Alex Pereira.
“If the UFC doesn’t want that to happen, ultimately it’s the boss’s decision, then it won’t happen.
“And then I’ll just move on with my life.
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“One of the ways I look at it, would you guys rather lose me or get one more super-fight.
“And the only super-fight that makes sense to me, not to everyone else, to me and my team is Alex Pereira.”
