New York City’s Madison Square Garden will play host to a historic UFC heavyweight title fight this Saturday as reigning champion Jon Jones puts his belt on the line against the division’s most accomplished titleholder, Stipe Miocic.
The main event at UFC 309 marks the first title defense for Jones, who captured the heavyweight crown with a dominant first-round submission victory over Ciryl Gane back in March. The win added to Jones’ illustrious resume, making him just the fifth fighter in UFC history to win titles in two different weight classes.
Miocic, a two-time heavyweight champion who holds the record for the most successful title defenses in the division’s history, presents a formidable challenge to Jones. After losing the belt to Francis Ngannou in 2021, the 42-year-old Ohio native will look to reclaim his throne and cement his legacy as the greatest heavyweight of all time.
“This is a fight that has been a long time coming,” said UFC President Dana White. “Jones and Miocic are two of the greatest fighters we’ve ever seen, and the heavyweight title is on the line. It doesn’t get much bigger than this.”
The co-main event features a highly anticipated rematch between former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira and one-time Bellator titleholder Michael Chandler. In their first encounter in 2021, Oliveira rallied from behind to defeat Chandler in the second round and win the UFC lightweight title.
Rounding out the main card are several other intriguing matchups, including a middleweight clash between rising star Bo Nickal and veteran Paul Craig, as well as a women’s flyweight bout between Viviane Araujo and Karine Silva.
White stated, “We have stacked this card from top to bottom.” “We’ve got title fights, rematches, and some of the best prospects in the sport. It’s going to be an incredible night of fights.”
For Jones, the opportunity to defend his heavyweight crown at the iconic Madison Square Garden holds special significance. The 35-year-old last competed at the venue in 2016, when he reclaimed the light heavyweight title with a decisive victory over Daniel Cormier.
“There’s just something special about fighting at MSG,” said Jones. “The energy, the history—it’s unlike anywhere else. I’m excited to go out there and put on a show for the fans.”
Miocic, however, will be looking to spoil the party and cement his own place in UFC history. The Cleveland native previously headlined a pair of events at MSG, knocking out Fabricio Werdum in 2016 to win the heavyweight title and then defending it against Francis Ngannou in 2018.
“I’ve had some great moments at Madison Square Garden, and I plan on adding another one this Saturday,” Miocic declared. “Jon Jones is a phenomenal fighter, but I’m confident that my experience and well-rounded skill set will be the difference.”
With the heavyweight title on the line and two all-time greats set to collide, UFC 309 is shaping up to be a must-see event for any MMA fan. The action gets underway this Saturday, November 18th, live from New York City’s Madison Square Garden.