UFC 309 results, highlights: Jon Jones takes out now-retired Stipe Miocic in MSG, ready to negotiate super fights

Daniel Yanofsky

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UFC 309 results, highlights: Jon Jones takes out now-retired Stipe Miocic in MSG, ready to negotiate super fights image

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, NEW YORK — On a weekend which Mike Tyson returned to the ring, another fighter considered "The Baddest Man on the Planet" set foot in the hallowed grounds of Madison Square Garden. This time, Jon Jones, the "G.O.A.T." of the octagon, walked out victorious.

Jones successfully defended the UFC heavyweight title against former champion Stipe Miocic in front of President-elect Donald Trump and a passionate New York crowd. Father Time remained undefeated, as 42-year-old Miocic retired soon after. 

The fight between the two was a year+ in the making, as an injury to Jones delayed the fight. It had been over 1,330 days since Stipe Miocic entered an octagon. It looked like he didn't miss a beat as he landed solid shots to the face of Jones. He absorbed several critical blows and looked somewhat loose. 

Unfortunately for him, Jon Jones is Jon Jones. 

MORE: After 4th straight featherweight title loss at UFC 308, what's next for legend Max Holloway?

Whenever Jones was in trouble, he landed vicious leg kicks. When he wasn't, he tripped Miocic with force and had a 10-8 round one, landing elbows across Miocic's face. By round three, Jones continued to punish Miocic, targeting the body. He explained in the post-fight interview that Miocic doesn't react to getting hit in the face, so he worked on the body. 

One spinning kick to the liver later, Miocic was down for the count. 

Jones defended the UFC heavyweight title for the first time since beating Ciryl Gane for the belt. He did not retire and teased super fights against Alex Pereira and interim champion Tom Aspinall. The Aspinall fight is what the fans have requested throughout fight week. Jones is open to negotiations. 

"If everything goes right, maybe we'll give you guys what you want to see," Jones said.

Aspinall, who had to walk past Jones' family to get to his seat, made his presence felt. Throughout fight week, fans cheered his name when mentioned, hoping Jones, who Jon Anik announced as the "undisputed, or.... partially disputed... heavyweight champion," would fight him. 

Meanwhile, it had been over 735 days since Michael Chandler competed inside the octagon. The former Bellator champion waited years to fight Conor McGregor in a fight that never came to fruition. It turned out to be a detriment for his career, as he looked the part against Charles Oliveira in his return fight. 

Oliveira used crafty offense, including hard combinations, to neutralize Chandler. "Do Bronx" brought Chandler to the floor and almost ended the fight with multiple submission attempts. To his credit, Chandler persevered, landing crisp shots of his own. However, he was the second "Iron Mike" to falter under the bright lights, as Chandler lost via unanimous decision. 

Chandler looked like a man possessed in the fifth round, collecting the energy of the crowd who cheered him on all night. He fought out of multiple submission attempts and dropped him twice towards the end. 

The former UFC lightweight champion in Oliveira is now 2-0 against Chandler and 2-2 in his last four fights. Chandler is now on a two-fight losing streak and 1-4 in his last four fights.  

Against a unique opponent in Paul Craig, wrestling standout Bo Nickal put on a unique performance, not landing a single takedown in his fight. Nickal utilized a striking offense, which confused and upset the fans, who chanted "overrated" at the rising star. Nickal shrugged it off, claiming all the greats mix things up and don't have dominant outings whenever they step in the octagon. 

Nickal is now 7-0 in MMA, earning his first decision win. Craig has now lost three straight. 

Viviane Araujo took care of the rising Karine Silva, beating her via unanimous decision. The Brazilian looked sharp in the final two rounds of the fight, while Silva faltered. The win made Brazilian 2-1 in her last two fights, while Silva had her nine-fight win streak snapped. 

Mauricio Ruffy vs. James Llontop got elevated to the main card after Chris Weidman's fight against Eryk Anders got nixed. Ruffy had a striking clinic against Llontop, punishing the latter with everything he had. However, Llontop was tough as nails, taking everything in stride. At one point, Ruffy looked like he was wondering how to take his opponent out without his fists. 

Ruffy landed a massive shot that put Llontop down, but it seemed like he wanted to put on a show instead of finishing it. It didn't matter, as he got a deserved decision win. 

The Sporting News provided results, analysis, and highlights from UFC 309.

UFC 309 results, highlights

Jon Jones, Father Time beat Stipe Miocic

Round three: Big jab from Jones. Miocic with a big shot that forced Jones back. Jones landed unprotected shots. Big uppervut from Miocic. Body kick from Jones. Elbow to the face of Miocic. Jabs from Miocic. Big right from Jones that pushed Miocic back. Whenever Jones appeared in trouble, he landed a leg kick. Big jab from Jones. Side kick from Jones. Big right from Jones. Another. Elbow from Miocic. Spinning kick to the gut and Miocic is down and out. It is all over. Jones retained, Miocic retired after. 

SN unofficial scorecard: N/A

Round two: Jabs from Miocic. He landed a solid right. Jones landed a better one. Uppercut from Miocic. Kick from Jones to the chest. Combinations from Miocic. Kick from Jones hurt Miocic. Leg kicks from Jones. Knee to the stomach. Big shot from Miocic. Leg kick from Miocic. High kick from Jones. Another kick. A shot from Miocic to the face of Jones. Spinning kick from Jones.  

SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Jones (20-17)

Round one: It's finally happening. Jones stalked Miocic to start. Big shot landed from Jones. Miocic took it well. Leg kick from Miocic. Leg kick from Jones. Strikes from Miocic landed. Jones just bullied Miocic to the floor with a trip. On top, Jones smothered him. He landed elbows. It is very one-sided as expected. Side position from Jones and he landed elbows to the head of Miocic.

SN unofficial scorecard: 10-8 Jones 

The main event is next. Years in the making. Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic for heavyweight gold. With Tom Aspinall watching. 

Michael Chandler calls out Max Holloway and Conor McGregor. 

Charles Oliveira sharp against Michael Chandler, Chandler shows guts

Round five: The crowd cheered Chandler on. Jab by Chandler. A big leg kick from Oliveira. An overhand shot connected. Big shots connected from Chandler, and he ended up on top. Elbows to the head of Oliveira. The fans are going wild. On top of Oliveira, Chandler attempted to find a away to win. Up on their feet, Oliveira got hit with a big shot. He hit one of his own and put Chandler down. Chandlr got up and dropped him on his back. He did it again. 

SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Chandler (49-46 Oliveira)

Round four: Big right by Chandler. He landed a nice jab followed by combinations. However, Oliveira landed a flying knee. Chandler swung away by the cage, but Oliveira stalked him. Oliveira was on his back. Chandler is surviving. 

SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Oliveira (40-36)

Round three: Chandler looked like a fighter who hadn't fought in over 700 days. Oliveira went for a takedown and missed. Jabs and an uppercut landed from Oliveira, and Chandler landed some of his own. Uppercut from Oliveira. Knee landed. Big right from Chandler. He missed one and Oliveira punished him. Another takedown. Submission attempt. Elbows to the top of Chandler's head. Rear-naked choke but Chandler got out of it. 

SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Oliveira (30-27)

Round two: Oliveira with leg kicks that digged into Chandler. Does the latter have enough stamina to go all five rounds? He landed a nice right. Oliveira landed a shot that forced Chandler to the floor. He landed another. Chandler started running away. Flush right from Oliveira. Chandler is trapped in a corner. Straight shot from Chandler. Takedown from Oliveira. Elbows to a downed Chandler. He held onto Chandler like a spider. 

SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Oliveira (20-18)

Round one: Oliveira gave respect to Chandler and his team before entering into battle. Chandler went for a kick right away. Oliveira returned the favor. A jab that went through Oliveira's defense from Chandler. They traded sharp jabs. Body shot from Chandler. Oliveira with a takedown attempt. He landed on Chandler. He held him down for a bit. 

SN unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Oliveira

Michael Chandler vs. Charles Oliveira is next. Chandler finally returns to the octagon after waiting for Conor McGregor. Can One "Iron Mike" get a win this weekend?

Crowd turns on Bo Nickal following Paul Craig win

11:50 p.m. ET; Big right by Nickal to open round three. He started pressing forward, still no takedown. Big kick from Craig. Kicks from Craig landed. High kick from Craig. Julianna Pena is yelling for Nickal to take Craig down, or do something. "Overrated" chants to Nickal. Wow. He earned the unanimous decision win, but that did not win the crowd over.

11:42 p.m. ET: Nickal went for a reaching shot. Craig pressed forward while Nickal landed a crisp right. Gut punch from Nickal and a shot to the face. Overhand shot by Nickal. Leg kicks from Nickal. High kick from Craig. Jabs from Craig. Massive right from Nickal. Body shot from Craig. 

11:37 p.m. ET: It is a big test for Nickal, and there is pressure with Trump cageside. Leg kick from Nickal, who also went for an overhand shot. Craig with a kick that got blocked. Nickal got chopped with a kick. High kick from Craig. Front kick and a straight punch from Nickal. Craig landed a counter shot. Double overhand shot from Nickal. Craig with a flurry of shots. Overhand shot from Nickal, who hasn't attempted a takedown. 

Top wrestler Bo Nickal faces Paul Craig next. 

Former ONE FC fighter Mikey Musumeci was just shown on screen to a solid reaction. 

Viviane Araujo takes care of Karine Silva

11:16 p.m. ET: Silva forced Araujo to the floor in round three. Both of them were bleeding. Silva tried to bait Araujo, who wasn't having it. Big right by Silva followed by a kick. Once again, Silva went to the floor, and once again, the referee brought her back up. And again. Elbow to the head of Araujo. Takedown by Araujo. Araujo won via unanimous decision.

11:10 p.m. ET: Araujo started round two as the aggressor. Silva pushed her against the cage with force. Circling around the cage, Silva forced her down and held a firm grip on Araujo. Araujo held an armbar as Silva tried to pound her face. Silva fought out of it though. Guillotine from Silva but she didn't have it in all the way. 

11:03 p.m. ET: Araujo landed sharp shots as Silva pressed forward. The former landed uppercuts from within the clinch. She wanted to go for the knockout shot but Silva stalked her. Silva landed an overhand shot that rocked Araujo. 

10:55 p.m. ET: Viviane Araujo vs. Karine Silva is up next. 

Mauricio Ruffy punishes tough James Llontop, gets the win

10:43 p.m. ET: Llontop with leg kicks and kicks to the stomach. Big shot by Ruffy. They exchanged punches. Llontop tried to fight back, but he is bleeding and may be down on the cards. He let his hands loose but Ruffy landed solid shots. Somehow, Llontop survived. Ruffy won via unanimous decision. 

10:37 p.m. ET: Low kick from Ruffy. Body shot from Llontop. Spinning back fist from Ruffy. Big shot from Ruffy and he cracked Llontop with a right. Somehow, he didn't take advantage. Llontop ended up up and pushed him into the cage. Elbow grazed Ruffy. Ruffy landed a hard shot. He had his hands down. Tom Aspinall has arrived. 

10:29 p.m. ET: Llontop pressed forward and landed kicks. Ruffy tried to do the same. Ruffy landed a sharp shot to the face of Llontop. Overhand shot connected from Ruffy. Ruffy landed a massive shot. However, he landed a move that affected his balance. Now a spinning back kick from Ruffy. 

10:15 p.m. ET: The first fight is about to begin. Mauricio Ruffy vs. James Llontop.

10 p.m. ET: The main card has started. The UFC is showing Trump's win and having a dance party.  

President-elect Donald Trump has arrived with his entire team. 

9:53 p.m. ET: McGhee started using more boxing. He went from the body to the head and back to the body of Martinez.Leg kicks from Martinez hurt McGhee. He held McGhee up by the cage, limiting the offense. A kick took McGhee out of sorts. Martinez continued that approach. Hard punch from McGhee. McGhee won via unanimous decision as the crowd did not know what Martinez was doing in the last round. 

9:44 p.m. ET: McGhee with a high kick and a jab that backed Martinez up. He landed another followed by multiple shots. Side kick by McGhee, followed by additional combinations. A jab pushed Martinez back. Round two saw McGhee continue to land hard shots. He used jabs to his advantage. Martinez tried to fight back. Both their legs were red. 

9:28 p.m. ET: Jonathan Martinez vs. Marcus McGhee is next. 

9:11 p.m. ET: Jackson landed a solid right to start. Miller pressed forward. He landed a big shot that forced Jackson back. They traded leg kicks. Miller with a straight right. He grabbed Jackson down for a guillotine choke after Jackson attempted to take him down and got the win. The old man still has something left in the tank. 

9:03 p.m. ET: UFC veteran Jim Miller vs. Damon Jackson is next. 

8:58 p.m. ET: Combinations from Onama landed and Romero had no answer for them. He landed kicks but Onama used jabs to set him back. Romero ended up on the floor as Onama got on top. He remained in a dominant position until the final bell. Onama won via unanimous decision. 

8:50 p.m. ET: Onama with crisp counter shots. Back kick from Romero. Kick to the stomach and a hard shot from Onama. These guys want Fight of the Night. Elbows and slaps from Onama. Body shots from Onama. Romero slipped and Onama brought him to the floor. They continued to try and outdo the other as the third round began. 

8:40 p.m. ET: Romero used leg kicks to chop Onama down. Massive right dropped Onama and then Romero put him in the rear-named choke. Onama got out of it The exchanged shots, Onama landing a leg kick to the chest as shot to the face. Romero landed sharp shots to the face and then Onama dropped him with several hard blows. What a first round. 

8:35 p.m. ET: David Onama vs. Roberto Romero is next as security is all over MSG.  

8:29 p.m. ET: As it looked like Diniz was going to give him trouble, Tybura dropped him down again. Elbows reigned down as Herb Dean did not end the fight. Round two ended with Diniz looking wobbly. The doctors won't let him fight. It is all over. The right call as Diniz looked like he didn't know where he was.

8:19 p.m. ET: Diniz landed a night shot to the side of the head of Tybura. He put him down to the floor and started hammering his arm to his face. Tybura ended up on top and stayed there. He did lay a few shots in but it didn't do much as the crowd booed the "action." Front kick by Tybura in the second followed by a straight right. 

8:10 p.m. ET: Marcin Tybura vs. Jhonata Diniz face off in heavyweight action. Diniz was supposed to fight Derrick Lewis at one point. 

8 p.m. ET: The prelims have started. 

Joe Rogan went to a side exit/entrance not long ago. Could be to see Donald Trump. Could be he had to go to the bathroom. Could just be nothing

7:43 p.m. ET: Brahimaj landed a shot to the collarbone, followed by two hard shots. Brutal. Gall has now lost four straight. That is two knockouts in three fights with the old gloves making a comeback. 

7:33 p.m. ET: Mickey Gall vs. Ramiz Brahimaj is next. New Jersey's Gall is looking for his first win since 2021. He came out to "Mickey" before the Sopranos theme song. The vibes are strong in New York City. 

7:22 p.m. ET: Elliot landed a massive right that crushed Hafez, putting him to the floor. He landed a few extra shots for good measure. My word. 

The UFC will not use the new gloves meant to avoid eye pokes for PPV events, starting with UFC 309. Interesting note: Jon Jones, known for eye pokes, is fighting tonight. 

7:05 p.m. ET: Bassil Hafez vs. Oban Elliot is up next. 

6:45 p.m. ET: The first fight of the night saw Eduarda Moura beat Veronica Hardy.

Eryk Anders is ill, his fight against Chris Weidman is OFF, per the UFC.

There is a heavy police presence here in Madison Square Garden. President-elect Donald Trump is expected to be in the building tonight. 

6 p.m. ET | 4 p.m. PT: Hello everyone, and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of UFC 309. 

UFC 309 results

Main Card

  • Jon Jones (c) def. Stipe Miocic via TKO for the UFC heavyweight title (4:29 into round three)
  • Charles Oliveira def. Michael Chandler via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-45)
  • Bo Nickal def. Paul Craig via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) 
  • Viviane Araujo def. Karine Silva via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Mauricio Ruffy def. James Llontop via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) 

Prelims

  • Marcus McGhee def. Jonathan Martinez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Jim Miller def. Damon Jackson via guillotine choke (2:44 into round one) 
  • David Onama def. Roberto Romero via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
  • Marcin Tybura def. Jhonata Diniz via TKO (doctor stoppage, round two)

Early Prelims

  • Ramiz Brahimaj def. Mickey Gall via KO (2:55 into round one)
  • Oban Elliot def. Bassil Hafez via KO (0:40 into round three)
  • Eduarda Moura def. Veronica Hardy via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

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Daniel Yanofsky

Daniel Yanofsky Photo

Daniel Yanofsky is the Combat Sports Editor for The Sporting News since late 2021. Prior to working for TSN, Daniel provided insight on combat sports for Fightful, FIGHT SPORTS, and Wrestling Inc. A proud Ithaca College alum, when he isn’t working on his golf game, Daniel is advocating for three-minute rounds in women's boxing.

You can follow him on Twitter via @DanYanofsky.