Jon Jones returns to the UFC this weekend for the first defense of his heavyweight title.
Jones, a bona fide UFC legend, is fighting in only his second heavyweight fight since vacating the 205-pound title in summer For the year 2020.
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The 37-year-old captured the vacant heavyweight title last March by defeating Cyril Jeanne in two minutes at UFC 285.
The Hall of Famer will make his first defense 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 present Jones with the toughest test of his short heavyweight career.
But the Cavs have been out of action for three and a half years, following a brutal knockout defeat at the hands of Francis Ngannou in his last outing in the Octagon.
Clashes with both Ngannou and current interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall have been promoted because Jones should emerge from his first heavyweight title defense victorious.
But Miocic is up the nextand it must be cracking.
When is UFC 309?
- UFC 309: Jones vs. Miocic will take place on Saturday, November 16.
- Early previews will begin at 11pm GMT, and previews will start at 1am in the early hours of November 17.
- The main card starts at 3am and the main event will likely start at 5am.
- It will be hosted by Madison Square Garden in New York.
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How to watch UFC 309
The UFC makes its annual visit to New York City on November 16 for another popular pay-per-view card.
UFC 309 will take place at the iconic Madison Square Garden, which has provided some memorable moments since mixed martial arts was legalized in New York State in 2016.
Headlining the list of “the most prestigious arena in the world” is the eagerly awaited heavyweight title fight between champion Jon Jones and former titleholder Stipe Miocic.
In the co-main event of the evening, Michael Chandler will face former lightweight champion and fellow fan favorite Charles Oliveira.
UFC 309 is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated cards of another huge year for MMA's top promotion.
Fans in the UK and Ireland can watch all the action of what is shaping up to be an amazing night at MSG live TNT Sports Box Office.
This year's penultimate payment card will be available to buy for just £19.99.
UFC 309 will also be available to buy on Discovery+, EE TV, Prime Video, Virgin Media TV and Sky Sports.
Fight fans don't need to subscribe to TNT Sports to purchase the star-studded event.
Watch UFC 309: Jones v Miocic live exclusively on TNT Sports Box Office from 1am on Saturday, November 16.
For more information 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 stream all the action live from the Discovery+ app, available to download to your mobile device or tablet.
Complete UFC 309 card
Jones vs. 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 forward when he faces Paul Craig while UFC legend Chris Weidman takes on Eryk Anders.
Main card
- Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic – for the UFC Heavyweight Championship
- Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler
- Vivian Araujo vs. Karen Silva
- Bo Nickal vs. Paul Craig
- Chris Weidman vs. Eric Anders
Initial card
- Nikita Krylov vs. Azamat Merzkanov
- Jonathan Martinez vs. Marcus McGee
- Jim Miller vs. Damon Jackson
Early preliminary card
- Mickey Gall vs Ramez Ibrahimaj
- Basil Hafez vs. Oban Elliott
- Veronica Hardy vs. Eduarda Moura
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What was said?
Asked if he could call it quits a day after his win over Miocic, Jones said: “You know I feel like I've been debating whether or not I'm going to retire.
“I really don't know if I'm going to retire or not. I feel like I'm basing a lot of whether I'm going to retire or not on my performance.”
“I think every fight, I always prepare for the last fight,” Miocic said of a potential retirement.
“I always thought about retiring after my first fight in the UFC.
“I say that all the time. Who wants to get beat up for 10 weeks or 12 weeks, then come back and do it again?
“I say that all the time. Who wants to get beat up for 10 weeks or 12 weeks, then come back and do it again?
“I love what I do and it's fun. So we'll see but my job right now is John. That's all I care about. That's what I think about.”
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Retirement is U-shaped
Jones revealed during the UFC 309 media day that he is willing to postpone his retirement if they offer him a huge showdown with fan favorite Alex Pereira.
“The main goal is to get past Stipe,” he told SunSport at UFC 309 media day.
“And if I could do that in a really dominant and destructive way, the desire in my heart would be like, ‘Okay, now it’s Alex Pereira.’”
“If the UFC doesn’t want it to happen, which is ultimately the president’s decision, it won’t happen.
“And then I will move on with my life.
“One way I look at it is, would you guys rather lose me or have another superhero battle.
“And the only fight that makes sense to me, not to anyone else, to me and my team is Alex Pereira.”
