Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic Set for November 16
After much speculation, the UFC has officially rescheduled the highly anticipated matchup between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic as the main event for UFC 309. This exciting pay-per-view will take place on November 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Jones will go head-to-head with Miocic, a former two-time UFC heavyweight champion.
Background on the Fight
Originally slated for UFC 295, UFC general manager Dana White announced the fight last July, emphasizing its significance: “This is the fight that Jon Jones wanted. This is the fight that Stipe wanted. This is the fight that leaves a legacy for both of these guys.”
When the UFC first scheduled the matchup, Jones had just secured a dominant victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in June 2023, marking his first return to the Octagon since defending his light heavyweight title against Dominick Reyes in February 2020. In contrast, Miocic has been inactive since being knocked out by Francis Ngannou in March 2021. His last victory was a decision win over Daniel Cormier in August 2020, after which Cormier announced his retirement.
Setbacks and Interim Title
The matchup was delayed when Jones suffered a torn pectoral muscle during practice. With Jones out, the UFC arranged an interim title bout between Tom Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich, which Aspinall won by knockout in just 69 seconds.
Despite the interim champions, White has remained adamant that the upcoming fight between Jones and Miocic is essential viewing. He has actively campaigned to establish Jones as the best fighter in UFC history, a claim that has sparked debate among the UFC ratings board.
“No, you do those two fights (Jones vs. Miocic),” White stated after Aspinall’s victory at UFC 295. “They both deserved that fight. That was the match they wanted.”
Official Date and Odds
As of now, the long-awaited fight between the 37-year-old Jones and 42-year-old Miocic finally has an official date and location. Miocic holds the UFC record for the most consecutive heavyweight championship defenses, with three.
According to BetOnline, the opening odds for the UFC 309 main event have Jones as a -400 favorite over Miocic, who is listed as a +300 underdog. Miocic currently ranks No. 8 in the UFC’s official heavyweight rankings, despite his inactivity. He was previously ranked No. 3 when the matchup was first announced.
Additional Bouts at UFC 309
In addition to the Jones vs. Miocic clash, the UFC has also announced other bouts for UFC 309, including matchups between Bo Nickal and Paul Craig, as well as Michael Chandler taking on Charles Oliveira.
Conclusion
With the official announcement of Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic, UFC 309 is shaping up to be a must-watch event. Fans are eager to see whether Jones can solidify his legacy or if Miocic will reclaim his position at the top of the heavyweight division. As the event approaches, excitement continues to build for this monumental showdown.
