UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones secured a remarkable victory at UFC 309, defeating MMA legend Stipe Miocic with a spinning back kick to the body, followed by a ground-and-pound finish. The highly-anticipated fight took place at Madison Square Garden, with Jones successfully defending his title against the 42-year-old Miocic, a former heavyweight champion.
The clash marked Jones’ return to the octagon after a two-year hiatus, and his performance was nothing short of dominant. In the first round, Jones managed to trip Miocic, keeping him grounded and landing a series of devastating elbows. Although Miocic displayed resilience, he was unable to pose a significant threat to Jones, who looked more formidable than ever. The fight reached its conclusion in the third round, when Jones delivered a spinning back kick that set up the finish. Referee Herb Dean stepped in to stop the contest as Jones unleashed additional strikes, cementing his victory.
After the fight, Jones shared a still image of the spinning back kick on Instagram, captioning it, “#UFC309 ladies and gentlemen.” This drew admiration from Nico Ali Walsh, grandson of boxing legend Muhammad Ali. Walsh reposted the image on his Instagram story, commending Jones with the caption, “The placement was everything. Congrats to the GOAT!!” Walsh himself is coming off a recent boxing victory but has yet to announce his next opponent.
Despite Jones’ impressive performance, there remains considerable debate about his next opponent. Many fans and analysts believe interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall deserves the next shot at Jones. Aspinall won the interim belt in November after Jones’ previous fight with Miocic was postponed due to injury. However, Jones has reportedly declined to face Aspinall, even though the British fighter was present in the audience for UFC 309.
Among those weighing in on the debate is Jones’ long-time rival Daniel Cormier. Reflecting on the fight, Cormier praised Jones’ exceptional fight IQ, adaptability, and longevity in the sport. He acknowledged Jones’ ability to consistently defend titles against challengers from multiple generations, calling him a “once-in-a-generation athlete.” Cormier also highlighted that Miocic represented the last major contender from a previous era, further solidifying Jones’ legacy.
As fans continue to discuss Jones’ status as one of the greatest fighters of all time, opinions are divided on what lies ahead for him. Some argue that Jones should face Aspinall to truly cement his legacy, while others believe he could retire on top after his latest triumph. The question remains: who should Jon Jones fight next? Fans eagerly await answers as the heavyweight division looks toward its next
chapter.