JON JONES and Stipe Miocic took part in a heated face-off ahead of their historic showdown.
The pair collide early on Sunday morning in the main event of UFC 309 in New York City.
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Jones, 37, returns from an 18-month layoff to make the first defence of his heavyweight title.
Miocic, meanwhile, hasn’t set foot inside the octagon since his crushing KO loss to Francis Ngannou in March 2021.
The trash talk between the pair has slowly but surely started to ramp up during fight week.
And after a few verbal jabs at the pre-fight press conference, they took part in a tasty staredown.
And after saying their clash was personal, Jones brutally snubbed Miocic’s offer of a handshake before their stared in one another’s eyes.
The crowd at MSG’s Hulu theatre drank up every moment of the tense face-off, which was overseen by UFC president Dana White.
Pro Jones and pro Miocic chants were belted out by the hundreds of MMA fans crammed into the theatre.
Jones and Miocic were supposed to lock horns with one another at MSG last November.
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
But a torn pectoral muscle for Jones scuppered the meeting of the greatest light-heavyweight and heavyweights.
For the best part of two years, fan favourite Jones has hinted that his clash of legends with Miocic could be his swansong.
He has, however, revealed he’s open to prolonging his career for a multi-million-pound showdown with surging superstar Alex Pereira.
And he recently warned White and the rest of the UFC brass it’s Pereira or bust for his next fight.
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.
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“And then I’ll just move on with my life.
“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.”
Read more on the Scottish Sun
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
